The legal counsel representing Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central Senatorial District has once again written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding that the petition seeking her recall and all accompanying documents be served through her legal representatives, J.S Okutepa SAN & Co, okay.ng reports.
In a letter dated March 28, 2025, addressed to INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and signed by the firm’s Head of Litigation, Adanu Emmanuel Ogwiji, the lawyers emphasized that the request aligns with their client’s constitutional right to a fair hearing.
Ogwiji noted that a previous letter was sent to INEC on March 24, 2025, making the same demand, but no action had been taken despite the urgency of the matter. He urged the commission to comply within 24 hours, warning that failure to do so would imply a deliberate violation of the senator’s rights.
The letter referenced a 2017 Federal High Court ruling in Senator Dino Melaye & 7 Ors. vs. INEC, where Justice Nnamdi Dimgba affirmed the necessity of transparency in recall processes. The court had ruled that INEC must furnish the affected lawmaker with the recall petition, attached signatures, and supporting documents to ensure due process.
“We urge you to comply with this request within 24 hours, failing which we will conclude that INEC is undermining our client’s fundamental rights,” the letter stated. “We hope the commission is not being used to sabotage the constitution and the rule of law.”
INEC had earlier notified Akpoti-Uduaghan of the recall petition in a letter signed by its Secretary, Rose Oriaran Anthony, and copied to Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The notification cited Section 69 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the commission’s 2024 Recall Guidelines.
The development comes amid heightened political tensions in Kogi State, with Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team insisting on full disclosure to ensure a transparent process.
