The Chatham House Group, Kogi state chapter, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to uphold the highest standards of integrity in the ongoing recall process initiated against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Addressing a press conference in Okene on Saturday, the group said the recall process was politically motivated and not a move primarily initiated by constituents.
Convener, Chatham House, Kogi State Chapter, Abdulrahman Zulqarnien Ozovehe, called on INEC to ensure the authenticity, credibility and eligibility of the recall process is verified with utmost diligence.
“The group is an intellectual organization of the most prominent youthful voices from the Kogi Central senatorial district on social media.
“We would like to seek the attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to a viral video where unintelligent All Progressive Congress (APC) ward stakeholders were seen signing and thumbprinting said recall petition against the people’s will on the basis of recalling a working and active Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. We call for thorough scrutiny, alongside forensic verification/investigation of the purported signatures and thumbprints.
“The petition that was received by the Independent National Electoral Commission on March 24, 2025, submitted by the so-called ‘Concerned Kogi Women and Youths and Kogi Central Political Frontier’ are obviously politically motivated groups. In our very recent research, the lead petitioner, Hon. Charity Ijese Omole is currently a Senior Special Assistant to the Kogi State Governor on Women and Youth Mobilization. She works for the Kogi State Government.
“It is safe to say the petitioners are members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) – the party Distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan roundly defeated during the February 28, 2023 Senatorial elections, despite their best efforts at rigging the People’s Will. The Nigerian Constitution, under Section 69, provides a clear framework for the recall of a legislator, emphasizing that it is a democratic process initiated by the constituents themselves. This process is designed to reflect the will of the people, not the agenda of any political party.
“The Nigerian Senate Chamber, as a symbol of democratic governance, is meant to uphold the principles of accountability and representation. However, when political parties take the lead in a recall process, as seen in the ongoing efforts against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in Kogi State, it risks undermining the constitutional intent. The recall process should remain a tool for constituents to express their dissatisfaction, free from partisan manipulation. Senator Natasha’s recall is political,” Ozovehe said.
The group demanded a thorough and impartial investigation into the allegations of sexual harassment and legislative obstruction leveled against Senate President Godswill Akpabio by Senator Natasha by the judiciary.
“We mustn’t divert from the initial claims, as doing so would compromise the pursuit of justice and accountability.
“We stand firm in our call for a fair and transparent process that respects the rights of all parties involved.
“Let us remain united in our commitment to justice, equity, egalitarianism, and the time-honored principles that define us as Ane-Egbiras – a people who always stand strong against oppression in its every form.”
