The Independent National Electoral Commission has confirmed that the contact details of the petitioners’ representatives in the recall process of the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, are now available.
The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.
According to the statement, a letter containing the telephone numbers, email addresses, and other contact information of the petitioners’ representatives was submitted, on Wednesday, to the commission’s Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu.
The update followed an earlier statement issued by INEC on Tuesday, noting that the petitioners failed to provide the necessary contact information, such as their addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses, as required under the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024.
The statement further noted that by the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, the commission has also sent a formal notification to the Senator in question about the receipt of the petition.
The letter was delivered to her official address and has been shared with the presiding officer of the Senate.
Furthermore, it has been published on the INEC website for public access, Olumekun stated.
“Further to the statement issued yesterday, Tuesday 25th March 2025, the commission hereby confirms that the contact address of representatives of the petitioners, their telephone numbers and e-mail addresses have now been provided in a letter addressed to the chairman of the commission dated today, Wednesday 26th March 2025.
“As provided in Clause 2(a) of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, a letter has been written to notify the Senator sought to be recalled about the receipt of the petition and delivered to her official address.
“The same letter has been copied to the presiding officer of the Senate and published on the commission’s website,” the statement read in part.
The statement added that the next phase of the process will involve a thorough examination of the list of signatories provided by the petitioners.
INEC will verify that the petition has been endorsed by more than 50 percent of registered voters in the Kogi Central Constituency.
The outcome of this verification will be made public in the coming days and will determine the subsequent steps in the recall procedure.
INEC has reiterated its commitment to ensuring transparency throughout the process.
“The next step is to scrutinise the list of signatories submitted by the petitioners to ascertain that the petition is signed by more than half (over 50 percent) of the registered voters in the Constituency. This will be done in the coming days. The outcome, which will be made public, shall determine the next step to be taken by the commission.
“We once again reassure Nigerians that the process will be open and transparent,” the statement concluded.
Group calls for senate leadership to step aside for fair investigation
However, a political pressure group, Action Collective, has urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, Senator Neda Imasuen, to step aside to allow for an impartial investigation into allegations against the Senate President.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the group’s National Coordinator, Teddy Onyejuwe, expressed concerns over the handling of a case involving Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, particularly.
Action Collective argued that to maintain public confidence, Senator Akpabio and Senator Imasuen should step aside, allowing for an independent and transparent probe. The group maintained that the Senate Ethics and Privileges Committee, which plays a key role in such matters, must function without bias.
“The only way to ensure a fair process is for both Akpabio and Imasuen to step aside and allow an independent inquiry to take place,” the statement read.
The group further emphasized that public trust in the National Assembly was at stake, urging lawmakers to prioritize accountability and transparency.
“A legislature that cannot uphold ethical standards risks losing public confidence,” the statement continued, calling on civil society organizations and pro-democracy groups to advocate for accountability.
The issue continues to spark debate, with various stakeholders stressing the importance of due process and institutional integrity in addressing the matter.