A Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, has overturned a previous ruling that prevented the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from engaging in the recall process initiated by constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In a significant judgement issued on Friday, the court confirmed that the recall process is constitutionally valid and is in line with the rights of the constituents. It encouraged the constituents to continue exercising their rights in a peaceful and orderly manner.
This decision follows an earlier ruling from Thursday, where the court issued an interim injunction against INEC, its staff, agents, and representatives, prohibiting them from receiving or acting on any petitions containing signatures from the Kogi Central Senatorial District. The injunction also halted any referendum based on such petitions aimed at initiating a recall of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan until the Motion on Notice is resolved.
This application was granted after an Ex-parte request backed by an Affidavit of Extreme Urgency, submitted by Anebe Jacob Ogirima and four other registered voters from Kogi Central Senatorial District.
The applicant’s counsel, Smart Nwachimere, contended that the recall petitions included fake signatures from alleged constituents. The injunction thus prevents INEC and its representatives from processing recall petitions with fraudulent signatures and from conducting referendums based on them.
The case has been postponed until May 6, 2025, for further proceedings.
