INEC Halts Moves To Recall Natasha, Over Multiple Errors In Database, Incomplete Contact Details

Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, made this announcement in a statement released on Thursday, 25th March 2025.

Olumekun noted that the commission would take necessary actions in accordance with established provisions if the petitioners complete the process appropriately.

“The Commission held its regular weekly meeting today, Tuesday 25th March 2025. Among other matters, the meeting addressed the petition for the recall of the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District.”

“The recall process is outlined in the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and the Commission’s comprehensive Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, which are available on our website. All petitions will be treated in strict adherence to the legal framework.

The petition from the Kogi Central Senatorial District was accompanied by six bags of documents, purportedly containing signatures collected from over half of the 474,554 registered voters across 902 Polling Units in 57 Registration Areas (Wards) in the five Local Government Areas of Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi, and Okene.

“The Commission’s initial observation is that the petitioners’ representatives failed to provide their contact addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses in the covering letter that submitted the petition, as required by Clause 1(f) of our Regulations and Guidelines. The only address given is ‘Okene, Kogi State,’ which does not serve as a reliable means of contacting the petitioners. Only the telephone number of ‘the lead petitioner’ was provided, and no contact details were given for the other representatives.

“The Commission wishes to emphasise that the recall of a legislator is solely the prerogative of registered voters in a constituency who sign a petition expressing a loss of confidence in their representative. Once the petition meets the submission requirements as detailed in our regulations, the Commission will begin the verification of signatures at each Polling Unit through a transparent process limited to the registered voters who signed the petition.

The petitioners and the legislator facing recall can appoint agents to observe the verification, while accredited observers and media personnel will also be allowed. Signatories to the petition will be verified using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) at each Polling Unit

“Therefore, if the petitioners fully comply with the requirements outlined in Clause 1(f) of the Regulations and Guidelines, the Commission will announce the subsequent steps according to the relevant laws, regulations, and guidelines. In the absence of a definitive contact address, the Commission is making efforts to use alternative methods to notify the petitioners’ representatives of this situation.”

The Commission reassured the public that it will adhere strictly to the legal framework governing recalls.