Recall: Be Fair To Natasha, CSOs Tell INEC

Civil Society Monitoring Situation Room for the recall of Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the senator’s recall  process with transparency, fairness, and strict adherence to guidelines.

They urged the commission to ensure that the will of the people is not manipulated in the process.

Convener and lead partner of the CSO, Mike Femi, at a press conference over the weekend, said the situation room was set up in response to the recall process of the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Femi acknowledged that INEC has received persons who initiated a recall process, obtained signatures of constituents and that the electoral umpire, in keeping with the law, has informed the affected lawmaker of the development as stipulated by law as part of the recall process.

He said “While we are not here to take a position on a constitutionally recognised ongoing process, it is important to warn that no effort should be spared to shield it from political shenanigans and undue interference that may undermine the process or infringe on the rights of anyone by anyone in the process.

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“We have watched the interests, intrigue, drama and suspense generated by the recall process of the Senator, who has been accused of “serially” violating Senate rules. We have also listened to comments and commentaries from various quarters, both those in support and against her recall, which in its own is the right all that have spoken or taken action to so do, while we owe the nation the sacred duty of ensuring fairness and unbiased action throughout the process.

“Our appeal however is that the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), recognising the humongous power it wields and also being central in this entire process of the recall must adheres strictly to stipulated guidelines.

“While no one can categorically accuse INEC of complicit so far, we want to emphasise that the Commission should conduct this process with transparency, fairness, and strict adherence to its guidelines, ensuring that the will of the people is not manipulated.

“Any attempt to toe unpopular route or politicize the recall process would undermine the credibility of our democratic institutions and we seriously hope that does not happen. At the same time, if the Kogi Central people say they need a new Senator, it will also be unfair and unjust to deny them such right as known to law, hence the need to activate our arsenals for this daunting exercise.

“As a non-partisan, non-political and non-aligned body, we must continue to raise our voices in contributing to the entrenchment of excellent democratic culture. We therefore assure the electorates, electoral umpire, the lawmaker affected and entire Nigerians of our total commitment to upholding constitutionality and fairness throughout the exercise and at the end of the day our report shall be made public on the exercise,” the convener said.