Senator Natasha Akpoti

A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, has ruled in favor of the recall process initiated against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District.    The court affirmed that the process is constitutionally valid and aligns with the civic rights of the people.

The ruling overturned an earlier decision that had restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from receiving recall petitions.   The court encouraged the constituents to continue exercising their rights in a peaceful and orderly manner.

Previously, on Thursday, the court had granted an interim injunction stopping INEC from accepting or acting on petitions containing the signatures of Kogi Central constituents.   The injunction also halted any referendum aimed at recalling Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan pending further court proceedings.

The application, filed by Smart Nwachimere on behalf of Anebe Jacob Ogirima and four others, argued that the recall petition contained fictitious signatures.   However, the new ruling allows the process to proceed, with the case adjourned to May 6, 2025, for further mention.