Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, has said that she has not received notification of a petition for her recall from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Senator Natasha stated this when Bellnews contacted her to confirm receipt of the INEC notice, following a notice from the electoral body to the lawmaker that was circulating on the internet.
Bellnews sighted a notice from the INEC, addressed to Senator Natasha and titled, “Receipt of a petition for your recall from the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The notice dated March 25, 2025, and signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Mrs Rose Oriaran Anthony, read, “Pursuant to Section 69 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended, I write to notify you of the receipt of a petition from representatives of registered voters in your constituency seeking your recall from the Senate.
“This notification is in line with the provision of Clause 2(a) of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall, 2024.
“This letter is also copied to the presiding officer of the Senate and simultaneously published on the Commission’s website.”
However, when contacted for confirmation of the notice from the INEC, Senator Natasha said she had not received any notice from the electoral body, questioning if INEC publishing the notice on its social media handles suffices.
She said, “I haven’t been served. I will ask my lawyers.”
Bellnews reported on Wednesday that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially accepted a petition seeking the recall of Senator Natasha after the petitioners provided the required contact details and address.
This came a day after INEC initially rejected the petition, citing the absence of verifiable contact information.