BREAKING: INEC rejects Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recall petition

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nigeria has rejected a petition to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from Kogi Central Senatorial District for the second time. According to INEC, the petition failed to meet the requirements of Section 69(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

The petition, which was submitted by a group of registered voters from Kogi Central Senatorial District, alleged loss of confidence in Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan. However, INEC noted that the petitioners did not provide their contact address, telephone numbers, and email addresses in the covering letter, as required by Clause 1(f) of the commission’s regulations and guidelines.

Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, explained that the commission’s immediate observation was that the representatives of the petitioners did not provide the necessary contact information. The address provided, “Okene, Kogi State,” was deemed not specific enough for contacting the petitioners.

The recall effort against Akpoti-Uduaghan follows her suspension from the Senate on March 6 over allegations of “gross misconduct” after a dispute over seating arrangements. According to Section 69 of the 1999 Constitution, a member of the Senate or House of Representatives may be recalled if a petition signed by more than half of the registered voters in the constituency is presented to INEC, alleging loss of confidence in the member.

INEC reiterated that the recall of a legislator is the prerogative of registered voters in a constituency who sign a petition indicating loss of confidence in the legislator representing them. The commission assured the public that it would be guided by the legal framework for recall and announced that it would make efforts to notify the representatives of the petitioners of the situation.

No Recall has ever succeeded in Nigeria

It is crucial to examine the history of failed recall efforts in Nigeria.

Nigeria’s political paths since 1999 are replete with the footprints of futile recall attempts.

Diaspora Digital Media can authoritatively report that since 1999, there have been multiple attempts by constituents to recall their representatives, but none has succeeded.

Political analysts argue that Nigeria’s political class has deliberately ensured that the recall process is practically impossible to achieve, weaponizing institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to frustrate legitimate recall efforts.

For instance, the most high-profile recall attempt in Nigeria’s democratic history was the move against Senator Dino Melaye in 2017.

His constituents, reportedly aggrieved by his controversial conduct and alleged lack of representation, initiated the recall process.

The exercise quickly became a battleground for political forces, with the state government playing a visible role in mobilizing against Melaye.

Despite INEC verifying over 188,000 signatures from his constituency, the recall process collapsed under legal gymnastics, delays, and alleged manipulation.

The signature verification exercise recorded a woeful turnout of about 5.3% of registered voters, well below the constitutional threshold required for a recall.

The process, rather than being a reflection of the people’s will, became an avenue for political grandstanding, rendering the recall mechanism effectively impotent.

In a similar vein, in 2016, some constituents of Borno South attempted to recall Senator Ali Ndume, citing poor representation and insensitivity to their plight. The effort, however, did not even advance beyond the initial petition stage, as it was heavily resisted by political forces loyal to the senator.

The recall attempt eventually fizzled out without any substantial traction, once again demonstrating the structural weakness of Nigeria’s recall system. Also in a similar vein, the recall attempt against Senator Jubril Aminu in 2005 was one of the earliest tests of the recall process in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. Some of his constituents accused him of being disconnected from grassroots issues and initiated the process to remove him.

However, it ended in futility, as the petition failed to meet INEC’s requirements due to alleged intimidation and vote suppression. Beyond these high-profile cases, there have been multiple recall efforts against state and federal lawmakers, including former House of Representatives members like Farouk Lawan and Abdulmumin Jibrin. Each attempt faced insurmountable challenges ranging from the coercion of petitioners, political interference, judicial delays, and voter apathy.

In 2018, constituents in Kaduna attempted to recall Honourable Garba Datti Mohammed, citing neglect and lack of accountability. However, the recall effort never materialized beyond media discussions, as political heavyweights in the state quickly shut it down.

Similarly, in 2012, some constituents in Anambra Central reportedly attempted to recall Senator Chris Ngige, but the effort crumbled as allegations emerged that the petitioners were being intimidated and coerced into withdrawing their support for the recall.

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