The Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, has vacated an interim injunction that previously restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting petitions to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central.
Last Thursday, the court had granted an ex-parte application filed by Anebe Ogirima and four other registered voters from the district. Represented by Smart Nwachimere of West-Idahosa SAN & Co., the applicants alleged that the recall petition contained fictitious signatures.
The order temporarily barred INEC from receiving or acting on the recall petitions and prohibited the electoral commission from conducting a referendum on the matter until the substantive case was resolved.
However, on Friday, the court set aside its earlier decision, ruling that the recall process is a constitutional right of the constituents.
The judge emphasised that the people of Kogi Central have the civic right to recall their lawmaker if they so choose, provided the process is conducted in an orderly and peaceful manner.
With the injunction lifted, INEC is now free to proceed with verifying the recall petition, which reportedly gathered over 250,000 signatures from registered voters in the constituency. However, the case remains ongoing, with further hearings scheduled for May 6.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the Senate on March 6 for “gross misconduct” following a seating arrangement altercation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
She had earlier accused Akpabio of sexual harassment
Follow us on:
