Constituents in Kogi Central senatorial district of Kogi State, on Wednesday, initiated a recall process against their lawmaker in the Senate, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, citing their lack of confidence in her representation.
The recall process, according to one of the constituents, who will not want his name in print, was being carried out beyond political party lines, saying that it highlighted the growing dissatisfaction among the Kogi Cental people with Akpoti-Uduaghan’s performance, particularly in addressing key issues like poverty, infrastructure, and education.
The recall process is expected to take two days across all polling units in the five local government areas of Kogi Central senatorial district.
During the exercise, constituents will be required to sign a petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), calling for the Senator’s recall.
LEADERSHIP reports that INEC upon receipt of the petition will thereafter verify the signatures of each constituent to determine whether they are truly registered voters in the senatorial district or not before proceeding with the exercise.
The decision to initiate the recall process was not taken lightly, with key stakeholders stating that they had tried to engage with Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan on several occasions, but their efforts were met with disdain and arrogance.
The collection of signatures was ongoing simultaneously across the four local government areas of Okehi, Okene, Ajaokuta and Ogori/Magongo at press time.
It was gathered that the fifth LGA – Adavi – will carry out the exercise on Thursday.
There was a large turnout constituents in Okene, Okehi and Ajaokuta LGAs, while the turnout in Ogori/Magongo was low.
Earlier, a group, on the platform of Good People of Kogi Central, had called on the people of the senatorial zone to be vigilant about some people with sinister motive of recalling Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, whom they described as a performing federal lawmaker.
In a statement signed by Hon. Abdulrahman Badamasuiy, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi Central and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s campaign DG, on behalf of the group, cautioned the electorate from Kogi Central not to volunteer information relating to their voter cards in the name of any empowerment.
He also advised them not to sign any form for whatever reason, as he said it was a ploy to recall a performing legislator, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
