Residents of Kogi Central Senatorial District have started the process to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the National Assembly.
Large groups of people, mostly women, were seen lining up to sign documents that included their photographs, signaling the formal beginning of the recall efforts.
The recall process in Nigeria, as stated in Section 69 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), requires a petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Once INEC verifies the petition, a referendum is conducted where voters decide with a simple yes or no whether the senator should remain in office.
If the required votes are met, INEC will issue a recall certificate to the Senate President for final action, News About Nigeria reports.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is serving her first term, was recently suspended from the Senate for six months over allegations of gross misconduct.
This suspension followed her claims that Senate President Godswill Akpabio had made inappropriate advances toward her.
She also alleged that her refusal to comply led to her being denied certain privileges.
Akpabio, however, denied any wrongdoing.
On Wednesday, residents across Kogi Central were seen actively participating in the recall process, signing their names across the five local government areas in the senatorial district.
Attempts to reach the senator for comments were unsuccessful, as she did not respond to messages or calls.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja has reversed its earlier ruling that nullified the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by the Senate.
The latest decision, delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, set aside the court’s March 4 order, which had initially rendered the Senate’s actions against her invalid.
The case began when Natasha took legal action against the Senate, its President Godswill Akpabio, the Clerk of the National Assembly, and Senator Neda Imasuem, who chairs the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct.
She sought an interim order to prevent the Senate from investigating her over an incident that occurred during a plenary session on February 20, which later led to her suspension.
Initially, the court granted Natasha’s request and issued an order that restricted the Senate from acting against her.
However, the Senate, through its lawyer Chikaosolu Ojukwu, challenged the ruling.
Ojukwu argued that the court order went beyond its jurisdiction and interfered with the Senate’s duties, which could create a constitutional issue.
He also stated that the order violated the principle of separation of powers as stated in the 1999 Constitution.
Other lawyers representing the National Assembly Clerk, Akpabio, and Imasuem also supported the Senate’s position.
Natasha’s lawyer, Michael Numa, opposed the move, insisting that the Senate had disobeyed a valid court order.
Despite Numa’s argument, the court ruled in favour of the Senate, setting aside its previous order.
As a result, Natasha’s six-month suspension remains in effect until further legal proceedings. The case has been adjourned to March 25 for further hearings.
