Court reverses order halting INEC from receiving recall petition against Sen. Natasha

A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, has overturned its earlier ruling that prevented the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting the recall process initiated by constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

In a landmark judgment delivered on Friday, the court upheld the constitutional validity of the recall process, emphasizing that it aligns with the civic rights of the people. The court also urged the constituents to exercise their rights in a peaceful and orderly manner.

This decision comes a day after the same court issued an interim injunction restraining INEC, its staff, agents, and representatives from accepting or acting on any recall petition signed by members of Kogi Central Senatorial District. The injunction also prohibited INEC from conducting a referendum based on such a petition until the Motion on Notice was determined.

The ruling followed an ex-parte application supported by an affidavit of extreme urgency, filed by Anebe Jacob Ogirima and four others, who are registered voters in the senatorial district. Their legal representative, Smart Nwachimere, argued that the recall petition contained fake signatures from alleged constituents.

While the court has now lifted the restriction on INEC receiving the petition, the injunction remains in place against accepting or acting on petitions with fraudulent signatures. INEC is also barred from conducting a referendum based on such petitions.

The case has been adjourned to May 6, 2025, for further hearing.