Constituents Move to Recall Senator Natasha Over Alleged Non-Performance
Constituents from Kogi Central senatorial district have begun the process of recalling their representative in the Senate, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, citing a lack of confidence in her ability to effectively represent the district.
The recall effort, initiated on Wednesday, is being carried out across political party lines, reflecting the growing dissatisfaction among the people of Kogi Central with Akpoti-Uduaghan’s performance. Constituents have voiced concerns over her handling of critical issues such as poverty, infrastructure development, and education.
The recall process is expected to span two days across all polling units in the five local government areas (LGAs) of Kogi Central senatorial district. During this period, constituents will be asked to sign a petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), calling for Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recall.
According to LEADERSHIP reports, once INEC receives the petition, it will verify the signatures to ensure they come from registered voters in the district before proceeding with the next steps.
The decision to initiate the recall was not made lightly. Key stakeholders indicated that they had made several attempts to engage with Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, but their efforts were met with what they described as disdain and arrogance. The signature collection is currently taking place simultaneously across the local government areas of Okehi, Okene, Ajaokuta, and Ogori/Magongo, with a low turnout reported in Ogori/Magongo. The fifth LGA, Adavi, is expected to conduct its exercise on Thursday.
A large turnout was noted in Okene, Okehi, and Ajaokuta LGAs, while Ogori/Magongo saw fewer participants.
Meanwhile, a group called Good People of Kogi Central, supporting Akpoti-Uduaghan, has raised concerns about the recall efforts. In a statement signed by Hon. Abdulrahman Badamasuiy, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi Central and the senator’s campaign director, the group urged constituents to be cautious about sharing information related to their voter cards under the guise of empowerment programs. The group also advised against signing any forms, calling the recall effort a political move to discredit a “performing” legislator.
