Constituents from Kogi Central Senatorial District have expressed their gratitude to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for validating 208,132 signatures (43.86%) of the total signatures submitted in their petition to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended lawmaker representing the District in the National Assembly.
Although the petitioners emphasized that they had mobilized more than the required 50% plus one threshold of registered voters, they believe that INEC’s validation of 43.86% of the signatures clearly demonstrates that the people of Kogi Central have rejected the embattled senator.
“Apparently, INEC canceled not less than 35,000 signatures at the administrative stage,” the constituents remarked in response to INEC’s statement on the recall process.
The petitioners reaffirmed their commitment to continuing the recall process, vowing to bring the Senator back to Kogi Central.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by Salihu Habib on behalf of the petitioners, they said, “We will liaise with INEC within the full ambits of the Constitution and regulations to demand for transparency in the handling of our petition. We have utmost confidence in the Commission not to subject the recall process to ambiguity or administrative opacity.”
The constituents also took the opportunity to thank INEC for validating the signatures, rejecting the claims made by critics who questioned the authenticity of the figures.
“We thank INEC for making it clear that the bulk of the people of Kogi Central are behind us and that we did not import a crowd like a desperate, embattled lawmaker,” Habib stated.
The petitioners reiterated their position that their call for the recall of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, citing “misconduct and divisiveness,” remains non-negotiable.
They pointed to a recent rally organized by the senator, accusing her of making inflammatory statements that could potentially incite unrest.
The petitioners vowed to use all lawful and constitutional means to ensure their voices are heard, declaring, “After God, power belongs to the people.”
“We are firm in our resolve to restore dignified and collaborative representation to Kogi Central Senatorial District. We will no longer indulge someone who will do and say anything just to remain politically relevant,” the petitioners said.
The constituents also addressed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recent rally, where they accused her of making divisive comments, stating, “The whole of Nigeria watched her deceptive rally last Tuesday where she openly made comments capable of setting, not just Kogi State, but Nigeria ablaze.”
They further questioned her remarks, saying, “How can any patriotic Nigerian accuse other parts of the country of sabotaging Kogi State/the North because LNG plants are sited here? How can a responsible Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria try to pitch the North against the South?”
In conclusion, the petitioners restated their determination to continue the recall process, saying, “We will pursue all lawful and constitutional means to ensure our voices are heard and respected. After God, power belongs to the people.”
