Court lifts injunction, clears INEC to proceed with Natasha’s recall

The Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, has lifted the interim injunction that previously stopped 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 motion filed by Anebe Ogirima and four other registered voters, who, through their lawyer, Smart Nwachimere of West-Idahosa SAN & Co., claimed that the recall petition contained fake signatures.

This order had temporarily stopped INEC from receiving or acting on the recall petition and conducting a referendum until the case was resolved.

However, on Friday, the court reversed its decision, ruling that the recall process is a constitutional right of the constituents.

The judge stated that the people of Kogi Central have the right to recall their senator as long as the process is peaceful and orderly.

With the injunction removed, INEC is now free to verify the recall petition, which reportedly has over 250,000 signatures from registered voters in the constituency. Meanwhile, the case remains in court, with the next hearing set for May 6.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the Senate on March 6 for alleged “gross misconduct” following a seating arrangement dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

She had earlier accused Akpabio of sexual harassment.