By Theophilus Oliver
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issued a press release on Thursday, 3rd March 2025, via its official X page, announcing its decision on the recall petition against Senator Natasha Akpoti of Kogi Central Senatorial District. The commission’s decision followed its regular weekly meeting held earlier that day.
In the press release, INEC addressed the outcome of its review of signatures and thumbprints submitted with the petition. The commission stated that the review was conducted in line with constitutional procedures and the 2024 Recall Guidelines.
INEC assured Nigerians that it would handle the matter with fairness and strict adherence to constitutional provisions and due process. The commission outlined the steps taken, beginning with verifying whether the petitioners met the necessary submission requirements. It then notified the senator in writing, copied the Presiding Officer of the Senate, and published the notice on its website. The next phase, it emphasised, involved thoroughly verifying the signatures and thumbprints to confirm their validity under the law.
Furthermore, INEC reiterated that any petition for the recall of a senator must comply with Section 69(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). This provision mandates that more than half of the registered voters in the senator’s constituency must sign the petition. According to INEC, Kogi Central Senatorial District has approximately 474,554 registered voters, meaning at least 237,278 valid signatures were required for the recall process to proceed.
After verification, the commission found that only 208,132 signatures and thumbprints were valid, accounting for just 43.86% of the registered voters. This fell short of the constitutional requirement by 29,146 signatories. INEC further clarified its findings, stating:
“Across the 902 polling units in 57 registration areas and five local government areas that constitute the senatorial district, the commission verified 208,132 signatures/thumbprints from the submission made by the petitioners. This translates to 43.86% of the registered voters, falling short of the constitutional requirement by 29,146 signatories.”
Given these findings, INEC concluded that the petition had failed to meet the necessary constitutional and regulatory requirements outlined in the 2024 Recall Guidelines. Consequently, the commission issued a public notice declaring the petition unsuccessful and forwarded an official copy of its decision to the Senate’s Presiding Officer.
INEC also announced that a summary of the review findings, including details of the assessed signatures and thumbprints, has been published on its website for public access.
With this development, the recall process has officially been terminated, highlighting the importance of strict adherence to legal frameworks in democratic governance. While the recall mechanism is designed to ensure accountability among elected officials, it requires meticulous verification to prevent potential abuse or manipulation. INEC’s decision reinforces its commitment to upholding the integrity of the electoral system by ensuring that all petitions strictly comply with constitutional guidelines.
As Nigeria continues to strengthen its democratic institutions, this case serves as a reminder of the necessity of transparency, due process, and adherence to the rule of law.