Petitioners representing Kogi Central Senatorial District have expressed their resolve to continue with the recall process of suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, despite the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) invalidating some signatures in their petition.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Salihu Habib, speaking on behalf of the petitioners, confirmed that INEC had validated 208,132 signatures, equivalent to 43.86% of the required threshold for the recall. The petitioners acknowledged that although they had initially mobilised more than the 50% plus one threshold of registered voters, some 35,000 signatures were invalidated by INEC during the administrative stage. Despite this, they remain committed to the process, which they say proves Kogi Central’s abandonment of the embattled senator.
The statement read, “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.”
They also expressed their gratitude to INEC for validating the majority of their signatures, which they believe disproves claims from 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,” they said.
The petitioners reiterated that their demand for Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recall was based on accusations of misconduct and divisiveness. “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,” they affirmed.
The petitioners also criticised Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recent rally, accusing her of making statements that could lead to national unrest. “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?”
“We will pursue all lawful and constitutional means to ensure our voices are heard and respected. After God, power belongs to the people,” they concluded.
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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