A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja Kogi State capital has set aside an earlier ruling that restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from receiving the recall process initiated by constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
It affirmed that the recall process is constitutionally valid and aligns with the civic rights of her constituents.
The Federal High Court in a landmark judgement delivered in Lokoja on Friday affirms that the recall process is constitutionally valid and aligns with the civic rights of the constituents.
The court urged the constituents to continue exercising their rights in an orderly and peaceful manner.
The development came up after the court on Thursday granted an 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.
The court also stopped INEC from conducting any referendum upon such petition for the purpose of initiating a re-call process of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria pending the determination of the Motion on Notice to the same effect.
The court granted the application following 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.
Counsel to the applicant, Smart Nwachimere, argued that the recall petitions contained fictitious signatures from purported constituents.
The injunction however restrains INEC, its staff, and agents from receiving or accepting recall petitions with fake signatures and conducting any referendum based on such petitions.
Senator Natasha had in the wake of a seat dispute with Akpabio accused the lawmaker of sexual harassment.
The case has been adjourned to May 6, 2025, for further mentioning.
