Court sets aside ruling stopping Senator Natasha’s recall process

In a landmark judgment delivered on Friday, the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, set aside the injunction restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from acknowledging the recall process initiated by the constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial zone against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

According to the court, the recall process is constitutionally valid and aligns with the civic rights of the constituents.

This set aside Thursday’s interim injunction restraining INEC, its staff, agents, privies or assigns from receiving, accepting or acting on any petition containing signatures of members of Kogi Central Senatorial District.

This followed an ex-parte application for interim supported by an Affidavit of Extreme urgency together with other court processes sworn to by Anebe Jacob Ogirima for himself and four others who are registered voters and constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District of Kogi State.

The recall petitions was described by the counsel to the applicant, Smart Nwachimere, as containing fictitious signatures from purported constituents.

The injunction asked INEC not to accept recall petitions with fake signatures and conducting any referendum based on such petitions

The case has been adjourned to May 6, 2025.