Some constituents in Kogi Central have reportedly begun a recall process against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents the district in the National Assembly.
Videos circulating on social media on Wednesday show several constituents lining up to append their signatures as part of the recall initiative.
A source in Kogi, who preferred to remain anonymous, confirmed that the process is actively underway, with strong mobilization efforts from residents seeking to remove the senator.
The recall process is said to have gained momentum after Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recent suspension from the Senate on March 6.
She was suspended over what was described as “gross misconduct” following a seating arrangement dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension followed allegations she made publicly, accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment, which further heightened tensions within the Senate.
The recall process is governed by Section 69 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which lays out the procedure for the removal of an elected legislator by their constituents.
The process requires the participation of registered voters in the affected senatorial district, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and a referendum.
According to reports, the recall exercise is expected to last for two days and will be conducted across polling units in the five local government areas (LGAs) that make up Kogi Central.
During this period, constituents will be required to sign a petition addressed to INEC, formally requesting the removal of the senator from office.
Once the petition is submitted, INEC will carry out a verification process to confirm that the signatures belong to genuine registered voters within the senatorial district.
If the verification meets the constitutional threshold, INEC will proceed with further steps, including organizing a referendum where the majority of voters will decide whether Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan will remain in office or be removed.
Meanwhile, political analysts have weighed in on the development, stating that a recall process is a complex and rarely successful political move in Nigeria due to the high number of signatures required and INEC’s stringent verification process.
It remains unclear whether the recall effort will meet the legal requirements needed to unseat the senator, but the situation continues to generate reactions from political observers and the general public.