Natasha recall: INEC notifies Senate as constituents amend petition

On Wednesday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) communicated with Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents the Kogi Central Senatorial District, as well as the Senate's Presiding Officer, Godswill Akpabio. The correspondence confirmed that the contact information for the representatives of the petitioners involved in the recall process has been rectified.

This correction was prompted by an amendment made by the constituents of Kogi Central to rectify a previous mistake in the recall petition.

In a statement, Sam Olumekun, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, disclosed that the revised contact details—including phone numbers, email addresses, and other relevant information—were submitted to INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on the same day.

This update followed concerns raised by INEC in a prior statement on Tuesday, which highlighted that the petitioners had initially neglected to provide essential contact information, such as addresses and phone numbers, as mandated by the Commission’s 2024 Regulations and Guidelines for Recall.

Consequently, INEC confirmed that it had dispatched an official letter to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, notifying her of the receipt of the recall petition. This letter was sent to her official address and also copied to the Senate's presiding officer. The updated contact information has been made publicly accessible on INEC’s website.

"In reference to the statement issued on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, the Commission confirms that the contact details of the petitioners' representatives, including their telephone numbers and email addresses, have now been provided in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Commission dated today, March 26, 2025.

"In accordance with Clause 2(a) of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, a letter has been sent to inform the Senator targeted for recall about the receipt of the petition, which was delivered to her official address."

The statement indicated, "A copy of the same letter has been sent to the presiding officer of the Senate and is available on the Commission’s website."

It further explained that the next step in the process will require the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to verify if the petition has received endorsements from over 50 percent of the registered voters in Kogi Central.

The results of this verification will dictate the subsequent actions in the recall process, which will be announced publicly in the near future.

INEC has assured the public that the entire procedure will be carried out with transparency and in strict compliance with legal standards.

"The next phase involves examining the list of signatories provided by the petitioners to confirm that the petition has been signed by more than half (over 50 percent) of the registered voters in the Constituency. This verification will take place in the coming days, and the results will be made public, guiding the Commission's next steps.

"We reiterate our commitment to ensuring that the process remains open and transparent," the statement concluded.

The recall petition, submitted on behalf of the constituents by Charity Ijese, was officially received and stamped by INEC’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, on Monday at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

This petition emerged following a series of controversial incidents involving Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended from the Senate on March 6 for alleged "gross misconduct" stemming from a conflict with Akpabio.

She had previously accused Akpabio of sexual harassment.

The constituents assert that they have fulfilled the constitutional criteria for the recall process, claiming that over 200,000 registered voters, which constitutes more than half of the district's electorate, have signed the petition.

Titled "Constituents’ Petition for the Recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Grounds of Loss of Confidence," the petition seeks the Senator's removal based on various allegations, including gross misconduct, abuse of office, and a pattern of deceitful conduct.

In their petition, the constituents stated, “We, the undersigned, as registered voters of the Kogi Central Senatorial District, hereby exercise our rights under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to formally request the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Nigerian Senate.”

In a related development, Ebonyi North Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi has expressed no remorse regarding his intense confrontation with former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, during a hearing on a petition on Tuesday, which accused the Senate President of sexual harassment.

Earlier that day, Ezekwesili appeared before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, which was examining the petition submitted by Akpoti-Uduaghan, alleging sexual harassment by Akpabio.

Ezekwesili was joined by Zubairu Yakubu, who signed the petition on behalf of Akpoti-Uduaghan, along with the senator’s legal representative, Abiola Akiyode.

During the hearing, a heated exchange occurred between Nwebonyi and Ezekwesili. The altercation began when Nwebonyi sought permission to present his remarks if Ezekwesili’s team was unprepared to continue. Ezekwesili interjected, instructing the senator, “Can you shut up?”

In retaliation, a furious Nwebonyi criticized Ezekwesili, asserting, “You will never be a senator” and labeling her “an insult to womanhood.” He vehemently questioned, “Why should you speak to a senator in that manner?”

Nwebonyi, who was representing the Senate President at the hearing, defended his reaction in an interview with Channels Television on Tuesday night, asserting that he was merely responding to what he perceived as disrespect.

“How could I regret the situation? I stood my ground. Is it appropriate for her to address me in that fashion? As a former minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a grandmother, she should consider her words first.”
I responded solely to her comments. How could I be the one exhibiting emotions? She was the one displaying emotionality. It is regrettable that a mother and grandmother of her stature could be so affected by her feelings as to label a sitting senator a hooligan, while I was merely seeking clarification from a presiding officer. My remarks were directed at the chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, not at her, so I have no obligation to engage with her, he stated.

In the aftermath of the confrontation, Ezekwesili defended her behavior during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, expressing her satisfaction with the interaction.

She contended that the incident underscored the difficulties women encounter in a patriarchal society.

“I was very pleased with what transpired yesterday because it has brought to light the challenges women face in many situations. While society may have some awareness of this issue, it has not received the attention it deserves. This incident has elevated the discussion to a prominent place on our public agenda, emphasizing that we must not permit a society that silences voices,” she commented.