A Federal High Court in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State, has overturned a previous ruling that prevented the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting a recall petition initiated by constituents of the Kogi Central Senatorial District against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In a landmark judgment delivered on Friday, the court affirmed that the recall process is constitutionally valid and aligns with the civic rights of the constituents.
The court encouraged the constituents to continue exercising their rights in a peaceful and orderly manner.
This decision comes after the court, on Thursday, had issued an interim injunction barring INEC, its staff, agents, or representatives from receiving, accepting, or acting on any petition containing signatures from members of the Kogi Central Senatorial District.
The court also halted INEC from conducting any referendum based on such a petition aimed at initiating a recall process against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, pending the determination of a Motion on Notice.
The interim injunction was granted following an ex-parte application supported by an affidavit of extreme urgency and other court documents filed by Anebe Jacob Ogirima and four other registered voters and constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District.
The applicants’ counsel, Smart Nwachimere, argued that the recall petitions contained fictitious signatures from purported constituents.
The injunction specifically restrains INEC, its staff, and agents from accepting recall petitions with fake signatures or conducting any referendum based on such petitions.
The case has been adjourned to May 6, 2025, for further mention.