Senator Natasha Warns INEC Against Delaying Service Of Recall Petition, Accuses Commission Of Sabotage
The legal team accused INEC of fostering suspicion by withholding the documents, warning that such actions could undermine public confidence in the electoral body.
The legal representatives of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, have accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of delaying the service of a recall petition against their client.
In a letter addressed to the INEC Chairman, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyers, led by Adanu Emmanuel Ogwiji of J.S. Okutepa SAN & Co., expressed concern over the commission’s failure to provide her with the petition and supporting documents despite multiple requests.
The letter, dated March 28, serves as a reminder of previous communications sent on March 24 and March 25, urging INEC to furnish the senator with the recall petition in line with constitutional provisions for fair hearing.
The lawyers referenced the case of Senator Dino Melaye & 7 Ors. vs. Independent National Electoral Commission & 3 Ors. (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/567/2017), in which the Federal High Court ruled that for a recall process to proceed, the affected lawmaker must be served with a copy of the petition along with supporting documents, including the list of signatories.
The legal team accused INEC of fostering suspicion by withholding the documents, warning that such actions could undermine public confidence in the electoral body.
In their latest communication, the lawyers gave INEC a 24-hour ultimatum to serve the recall petition or risk legal action.
They also suggested that the commission might be allowing itself to be used to sabotage the senator’s rights.
The letter read, “We continue to act as Counsel to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, member of the 10th National Assembly representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, hereinafter referred to as our client and on whose firm instruction, we write to you.
“Recall, that we had written to your office on the 24th day of March 2025 and 25th day of March 2025 demanding that our client be served through us, with the Petition and all its supporting documents in line with our client’s right to fair bearing as enshrined in the constitution. Several days have passed since our communication to your office on the urgency of the matter.
“It is imperative to state, that in the case of Senator Dino Melaye & 7 Ors. Vs. Independent National Electoral Commission & 3 Ors. (Unreported, Suit No, FHC/ABJ/CS/567/2017) in which the commission was the 1st Defendant, the Federal High Court per Hon. Justice (Dr.) Nnamdi O. Dimgba held thus at PP.62-63:…It is important to stress the need for transparency in the conduct of public affairs, such as the subject matter of this litigation. It is when agencies as the 1” Defendant refuse to do simple things such as releasing petitions and the accompanying documents to the affected persons such as the 1st Plaintiff that breeds suspicions and creates negative impressions in the minds of the public and affected persons, when this could easily have been avoided.
“My view therefore is that for a recall process to proceed, the 1st Defendant should serve on the 1st Plaintiff a copy of the petition, together with all the documents accompanying it, all of which have been expressly referred to in the petition itself, Exhibit INECI. For the avoidance of doubt, these documents include (a) The recall petition (b) Schedule of Signatures attached to the petition as referred to in it and (c) the full list of persons in support of the recall process, which was also referred to in the following language: “Find supplied in the accompanying jute bags, full list of everyone in support of this Recall Process,” he explained.
According to Adanu, “Pursuant to the position of the law stated above, we urge you most respectfully to comply with the request of our client, within 24 hours from the date of receipt of this letter, failing which we shall take it that, your commission has deliberately chosen to undermine the fundamental right of our client to be served the Petition said to have been received by your commission.
“We hope that your commission is not allowing itself to be used in sabotage not only of the fundamental right to fair hearing of our client, but again the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and all other relevant laws of the land. We therefore reiterate, that you cause the said Petition and all attachments to be served within 24 hours from the date of this letter,” he added.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, elected in 2023, has been a prominent figure in Kogi State politics, often at odds with powerful political interests.
Her recall process is widely seen as a politically charged move, raising concerns over the fairness of democratic processes in Nigeria.
