Court Bars INEC From Accepting Recall Petition Against Natasha

The suspended senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Friday, secured a court injunction barring the Independent National Electoral Commission from accepting the recall petition from her constituency.

The Federal High Court sitting at Lokoja on Thursday, however, granted an interim injunction restraining INEC from receiving or acting on any petition seeking to recall her pending the determination of the motion.

It granted the order following an ex-parte application for interim injunction supported by an affidavit of extreme urgency along with other court processes sworn to by Anebe Ogirima for himself and four others who are registered voters and constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District.

The application was moved by Smart Nwachimere of West-Idahosa, SAN & Co.

The case was adjourned to May 6, 2025 for a report of service and further mention.

9News Nigeria reports that the order read, “That an interim injunction is granted restraining the defendant, staff, agents, privies or assigns from receiving, accepting or acting in any way whatsoever on any purported petitions submitted to the defendant by any person or persons whatsoever, containing fictitious signatures and names of purported members of the said district and conducting any referendum to initiate a recall process of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as senator pending the determination of the motion.

“That the enrolled order of this honourable court alongside the Motion on notice be served on the defendant/Respondent pending the determination of the substantive suit. That the return date shall be the 6th day of May 2025 for report of service and further mention.”

The push to recall the lawmaker intensified on Thursday, with more groups in her constituency throwing their weight behind the process, as the move comes on the heel of her suspension from the Red Chamber, after a dispute with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, over seating arrangements.

On Wednesday, constituents began the process for her recall but INEC denied knowledge of the process.