The Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has taken decisive legal action by petitioning the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Miller Dantawaye, over allegations of forgery in the ongoing recall process against her. Akpoti-Uduaghan contends that the signatures submitted in the recall petition were manipulated to falsely represent a widespread demand for her removal.
According to a report by Saturday PUNCH, the petitions were formally submitted to both the Inspector-General of Police and the state police commissioner on Friday afternoon. The move underscores her commitment to challenging what she describes as a fraudulent and politically motivated attempt to unseat her from office.
The recall process was initiated when some individuals within Akpoti-Uduaghan’s constituency, led by Charity Ijese, filed a petition at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja. The petition reportedly contained over 250,000 signatures calling for her removal, a development that has since been met with skepticism and scrutiny.
This recall effort comes in the wake of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s controversial suspension from the Senate on March 6, following accusations of gross misconduct. Her suspension occurred shortly after she publicly accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, raising concerns that the recall might be an orchestrated attempt to silence her.
INEC acknowledges petition but notes irregularitiesOn Tuesday, INEC confirmed the receipt of the recall petition via its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun. However, the commission also highlighted notable discrepancies within the submission, particularly the absence of critical details such as the contact addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of the petitioners.
By the following day, INEC announced that the petitioners had since updated the missing details, formally notifying both Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Akpabio about the amendment. However, questions over the legitimacy of the petition persist.
Amidst the ongoing controversy, video clips have surfaced online, allegedly showing some politicians in Kogi State signing the recall petition. These leaked videos have fueled growing suspicion over the authenticity of the process and the credibility of the signatures submitted to INEC.
One of the primary concerns raised is the improbable timeline and scale of the petition. Many critics have pointed out that over 250,000 people reportedly signed the petition in just 10 days, a significant discrepancy given that only about 120,000 voters participated in the 2023 senatorial election in the district.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team alleges forgeryIn response to these concerns, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team has formally alleged forgery in the recall petition. Speaking to Saturday PUNCH, her lawyer, Victor Giwa, confirmed that a petition detailing the allegations had been submitted to the police, with plans to also file a formal complaint with INEC.
“We have strong evidence that many of the signatures in this petition were forged. This is the handiwork of desperate APC members in Kogi State who are determined to remove her at any cost,” Giwa asserted.
He further argued that an independent police investigation is necessary before INEC proceeds with any aspect of the recall process, stating that forgery is a criminal offense that falls strictly under the jurisdiction of law enforcement agencies.
“INEC does not have the capacity to conduct a forensic examination to determine whether the submitted signatures are authentic. Their role is simply to verify if they match existing voter records. However, since forgery is being alleged, only the police have the authority to conduct a thorough investigation. The petitioners should be required to produce the original signatures, and the police should conduct a forensic audit to verify their authenticity,” he added.
Ebira People’s Association condemns recall processIn addition to legal opposition, the recall process has faced strong resistance from the Ebira People’s Association (EPA), a socio-political group representing Akpoti-Uduaghan’s ethnic community. The association has denounced the recall effort as a politically motivated maneuver designed to undermine democracy and disenfranchise the senator’s supporters.
Speaking to Saturday PUNCH, EPA Secretary Baba Abdulrazaq described the recall effort as an “electoral fraud” and an “attempt to subvert democratic institutions.” He also accused INEC of facilitating an illegitimate process by providing undue support to individuals he labeled as “impostors and dissidents.”
“It is unacceptable that the Independent National Electoral Commission has chosen to align itself with impostors and fraudulent petitioners who claim to have gathered 250,000 signatures through illicit means. This is a direct attack on democracy and the people’s mandate,” Abdulrazaq stated.
With tensions running high and the controversy intensifying, all eyes are now on INEC and law enforcement agencies as they navigate the legal and political complexities surrounding this recall petition. Whether the allegations of forgery will lead to a full-scale police investigation remains to be seen, but the outcome of this dispute will undoubtedly have significant implications for Akpoti-Uduaghan’s political future and the broader democratic landscape in Kogi Central.