It is no longer news that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has been suspended for six months from the 10th Senate over alleged misconduct and non-compliance with Senate rules.
Amid the unfolding drama, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan made serious allegations of sexual harassment against the Senate President. During appearances on national television and the UN interparliamentary meeting in New York, the embattled senator claimed that her suspension was a direct consequence of her accusations against the Senate President. However, Senate leadership has swiftly rejected these claims, stating that the Kogi Central senator’s suspension was due to what they described as gross misconduct.
However, several groups from Natasha’s senatorial district, including the umbrella body of the Ebira people, the Ebira Peoples Association (EPA), have expressed their support for the embattled senator.
In a statement issued by the EPA president general, Dr. Oyibo Godwin, the association condemned the recent developments in the Senate, including Senator Natasha’s removal as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Local Content and her sudden displacement from her designated seat.
Dr. Godwin described these actions as punitive and politically motivated, adding that they had sparked widespread reactions across both social and conventional media.
.The group called on the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly to put an end to acts of intimidation and harassment within the legislative chamber, demanding the immediate reinstatement of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
However, in a surprising turn of events, the tide shifted against the senator, with many of her constituents calling for her recall from the Senate. What began as a lighthearted idea quickly spread like wildfire across the five local government areas.
Several groups have since voiced their support for the recall process, claiming that the senator has been increasingly disconnected from her constituents since her clash with the Senate leadership. They further alleged that she has failed to provide the level of representation the people of the area expect and deserve.
The Recall Exercise
Constituents in Kogi Central senatorial district have expressed mixed views on the recall process of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Supporters of the recall argue that
it stems from a lack of confidence in her representation and allegations of gross misconduct. On the other hand, those opposed to the recall deem the effort as futile.
The recall process, according to her constituents, transcends party lines, reflecting growing
dissatisfaction with Akpoti-Uduaghan’s performance—particularly in addressing critical issues such as poverty, infrastructure, and education.
Some constituents, who spoke with our correspondent, acknowledged that while a recall is challenging, it is not impossible. They urged Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to engage key stakeholders in her senatorial district to avert the recall.
One electorate, Nura Ibrahim from Okene, shared with our correspondent that the process would continue to gather the necessary signatures for the recall, though he expressed doubts about its success. The signature collection has since been completed.
A member of the ruling APC in the state from Ihima, Okehi LGA, Abbas Aliyu, dismissed the recall exercise as an effort in futility. He reminded that a similar attempt was made to recall Senator Dino Melaye during the tenure of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, but it ultimately failed. Aliyu urged the people of Kogi Central to reconsider, asserting that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is performing well and does not deserve to be humiliated.
“I believe the federal government is behind this move. If the people truly want to recall their senator, it should not be a party-driven effort,” he stated.
On the other hand, Amina Muhammed, a women’s leader from Ajaokuta, expressed her stance in a telephone conversation, noting that while there was a large turnout for the recall initiative in Ajaokuta LGA, she chose not to participate. She questioned the need for the recall, stating, “I don’t see why she should be recalled. She’s doing well. Just recently, she empowered youths and women. So, what has changed between January and March?”
Earlier, a group called the Good People of Kogi Central accused individuals with sinister motives of trying to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
A PDP chieftain from Kogi Central and the senator’s former campaign director, cautioned Kogi Central electorates not to share information about their voter cards under the guise of any empowerment programmes. He also advised them not to sign any forms for any reason, stating that it was part of a plot to recall a hardworking legislator like Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In response, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed that she was not losing sleep or feeling worried about the efforts to remove her from office, even as some supporters in Okehi local government area had registered to back the recall.
Despite this, her media aide, Israel Arogbonlo, dismissed the recall attempt as a politically motivated effort that would ultimately fail. He explained that the push for the recall was driven by certain individuals with hidden agendas, and that neither the senator nor her supporters were feeling any pressure.
According to Arogbonlo, the lawmaker remains focused on her duties and is unconcerned about the recall process.
More Groups Join Thee Recall Process:
Several groups have continued to lend their support to the recall movement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan across Kogi Central, the senatorial district she represents in the Red Chamber.
One such group, the Kogi Central Women Development Association, has voiced its backing for the Senate led by Senator Godswill Akpabio, particularly regarding the suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and the recall process initiated by her constituents due to allegations of poor representation.
During a press conference in Lokoja, the spokesperson for the group, Omole Charity Ijese, declared their participation in the recall process. She emphasized that Senate representation is not a spectacle, but a serious responsibility, which, she regretted, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had failed to understand.
The Kogi Central Women Development Association, expressed full support for the Senate’s disciplinary action against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, stating they were deeply concerned about how what began as a simple seating change quickly escalated into allegations of sexual harassment by the senator against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Another group, the Kogi Central Political Frontiers, also joined the recall movement, criticising Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for allegedly spreading false narratives about the Senate President, which they believe has tarnished the reputation of Kogi Central.
They harped that as concerned stakeholders from the region, several groups have expressed their full endorsement of the recall process for Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In response to recent developments, Ebira indigenes have strongly condemned any insinuations suggesting that the recall movement lacked support from the majority of the electorate in the area.
Indigenes across the five local governments of Kogi Central stated that they were determined to bring the embattled senator back home, emphasising that the embarrassment she had caused the senatorial district had, regrettably, gained international attention.
This position was outlined in a statement jointly signed by Alh. Ibrahim Abdulazeez Ibrahim, president of the Kogi Central Elites Forum (KCEF), and Prince Akerejola Johnson of Ogori/Magongo LGA, who serves as the secretary.
The constituents urged Nigerians to disregard claims of deception made by the senator’s camp, which suggested that people were misled into participating in the recall exercise.
They said, “No one is sponsoring this recall. Our people are united on this cause. From the history of the Ebira people, you know we cannot be deceived. What she has done is mostly propaganda. Even some of us who supported her on social media are no longer with her. We cannot sacrifice the integrity of the state and Nigeria for the selfish, juvenile tendencies of a Senator.”
The Court Option:
As the demand for Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recall continues to grow, the embattled senator sought legal action, approaching the Federal High Court in Lokoja to prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting signed petitions from her constituents.
In response, Justice Isa Dashen granted an interim injunction, barring INEC from receiving any petitions aimed at initiating the recall process against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan. The court also prohibited INEC staff, agents, or any related individuals from accepting or acting on petitions containing fictitious signatures from Kogi Central constituents or conducting any referendum on such petitions, pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.
However, the interim injunction was short-lived. Less than 24 hours later, the same Federal High Court vacated the injunction, allowing INEC to proceed with receiving signed petitions for the recall process. In the ruling, the court set aside the previous order, affirming that the recall process initiated by Kogi Central constituents was constitutionally valid and within their civic rights.
The judge further urged the constituents to continue exercising their rights in an orderly and peaceful manner, as they had done thus far.
On Monday, INEC officially received the petition for the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, submitted by the constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District. The petition, presented by Ms. Charity Ijese , on behalf of the constituents, contained over 250,000 signatures, out of about 480,000 registered voters in the district, meeting INEC’s requirement of 50 percent plus one.
The petition was received at INEC headquarters by the Commission’s Secretary, Mrs. Rose Anthony, who officially stamped it.
As the controversy continues, the Natasha camp has accused the ruling party in the state of orchestrating the recall effort. The submission of the petition by Ms. Charity Ijese, a Senior Special Assistant in the government of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, has fueled these suspicions.
All eyes are now on INEC to begin the next steps in the process, starting with verifying the authenticity of the signatures.
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