INEC Receives Recall Petition Against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Amid Forgery Allegations

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Speaks Out on Alleged Forgery in Recall Petition

Listen up, folks. The political drama unfolding in Nigeria just got a whole lot more interesting. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Senator representing Kogi Central, has taken her fight to the top brass of law enforcement. She's petitioned none other than the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Miller Dantawaye, over what she claims is an act of forgery in a recall petition against her. This isn't your run-of-the-mill political squabble; it's a high-stakes battle that could reshape the political landscape of Kogi State.

Petition Delivered to Police and INEC

According to reports from Punch, the petitions were officially handed over to the Inspector-General of Police and the police commissioner last Friday afternoon. Now, here's the backstory: a group of constituents, led by a certain Charity Ijese, walked into the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja with a whopping 250,000 signatures. Their mission? To recall Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan. But here's the kicker—these signatures are now under scrutiny, with allegations swirling that some of them might not be legit.

Recall Process: The Beginning

Let me break it down for you. The petition for Akpoti-Uduaghan's recall didn't just pop up out of nowhere. It all started when she was suspended from the Senate on March 6 over allegations of gross misconduct. This suspension set off a chain reaction, leading to the recall petition. Fast forward to Tuesday, when INEC, through its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, confirmed receipt of the petition. But here's the twist—they flagged the petition for lacking critical details like contact addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of the petitioners.

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INEC Steps In

On Wednesday, INEC sent letters to both Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Presiding Officer of the Senate, Akpabio, confirming that the missing contact information had been corrected. But just when you thought the story was gaining some clarity, video clips surfaced on social media showing some politicians in the state signing onto the petition. These clips fueled suspicions and added a layer of complexity to an already intricate situation.

Senator's Legal Team Weighs In

Victor Giwa, the lead lawyer for the suspended senator, spoke out on this developing saga. According to Giwa, Akpoti-Uduaghan has formally petitioned the Inspector-General of Police and the Kogi State police commissioner over the alleged forgery. He emphasized that a copy of the petition would also be sent to INEC. Giwa stated, “Firstly, we are aware that those signatures were forged, and it is the act of APC members in Kogi State, who are desperate to remove her. Secondly, we are prosecuting the case in court. We have written our petition regarding the forgery, and we are submitting it to the Inspector General of Police, the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, and INEC. Before 1pm today (Friday), they would have received it.”

Why the Police?

Giwa went on to explain the rationale behind involving the police in this matter. “INEC does not have the materials to examine a case of forgery. What they are expected to do is compare whether the signatures correspond with the ones signed by the owners. But we are alleging that it is a case of forgery, and only the police can handle cases of forgery. Let the petitioners present the signatures, and let the police subject them to forensic tests for us to confirm that they were not forged,” Giwa added.

What Happens Next?

As the drama unfolds, it's expected that once INEC receives the petition, they'll verify the signatures from each polling unit in the constituency. But here's the hitch—Giwa insists that the forgery allegations must be addressed before INEC can move forward with the recall process. With a related case already pending in court, the legal and political landscape is set to get even more complicated.

INEC's Role in the Recall Process

Giwa further elaborated on INEC's responsibilities in this matter. “The case is in court, and INEC is aware. Secondly, we are now dealing with allegations of fraud. Some people submitted certain signatures, and others claim they were forged, which is a criminal matter. So, as an institution, I believe INEC would need to submit the signatures to the police to confirm whether or not there is forgery. And this should come before the verification exercise,” he emphasized.

So there you have it, folks. This isn't just about signatures; it's about trust, integrity, and the future of democracy in Nigeria. Stay tuned because the next chapter in this political saga is just around the corner.

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