The Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, has overturned its previous order blocking the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting a recall petition against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. This ruling, delivered on Friday, paves the way for the recall process to continue.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The court upheld the constitutional right of Kogi Central Senatorial District constituents to initiate a recall, emphasizing that such civic actions must remain peaceful and lawful. This decision comes a day after the court issued an interim injunction, temporarily halting INEC from acknowledging or acting on any recall efforts.
Anebe Jacob Ogirima and four other registered voters in the district had filed an ex-parte application, arguing that the recall petition was riddled with fraudulent signatures. While the court has given the green light for the process to proceed, it warned that INEC must reject any petitions found to contain fake or manipulated signatures.
The judge emphasized that the recall must reflect genuine public sentiment, not falsified endorsements. The case has been adjourned to May 6, 2025, for further deliberation, with the court expected to rule on the authenticity of the contested signatures and the next steps in the recall effort.