We didn’t take sides as claimed by many Nigerians – INEC speaks on Natasha’s recall process

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that it followed due process in the recall petition submitted against the lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The spokesperson for the commission, Rotimi Oyekanmi said INEC was not partisan in assessing the petition submitted by some individuals claiming to be members of the lawmaker’s constituency.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Oyekanmi said INEC did not take sides as claimed by many Nigerians.

He said, “INEC was never partisan, the recall process is provided for in the constitution that you referenced, Section 69 and Section 110.

“And INEC is the institution given the mandate to undertake the recall process. Now the thing is simple, according to our regulations and guidelines, constituents in a constituency who wish to recall their representative will write a petition to the commission,” Oyekanmi said.

He said the petition which comes as a cover letter should be accompanied by signatures of more than one-half of the registered voters in that constituency.

Oyekamni added that once the petition is received, the commission immediately notifies the lawmaker sought to be recalled in a letter which the presiding officer of the legislative chamber is also copied.

He said the commission goes further to ascertain the number of signatures accompanying the petition.

Speaking further, the commission’s spokesperson said that in the case of Akpoti-Uduaghan, INEC received the petition.

“What Nigerians were saying was that we were taking sides. However, what happened is that on the cover letter, the representatives of the petitioners, don’t include their address as required in our regulations and guidelines. And what we just to ask them to supply that address,” Oyekanmi added.