The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed the petition seeking to recall the Senator representing Kogi ...
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed the petition seeking to recall the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, citing insufficient valid signatures. The decision was announced following the Commission’s weekly meeting on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
This was contained is a statement signed and released by Sam Olumekun, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information & Voter Education Committee.
According to INEC, its review of the petition found that the required number of valid signatures to trigger a recall process was not met. “A petition for the recall of a Senator must comply with the provision of Section 69(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), which requires the signatures of more than one-half of the registered voters in the constituency,” the Commission stated.
With a total of 474,554 registered voters in Kogi Central, at least 237,278 valid signatures were needed. However, INEC’s verification process confirmed only 208,132 signatures, representing 43.86% of registered voters—falling short of the required threshold by 29,146 signatories.
The electoral body emphasized its commitment to fairness and adherence to legal provisions. “We ensured that the petitioners complied with the requirements for submission. We also notified the member sought to be recalled in writing, copied the presiding officer of the Senate, and published the notice on our website,” the statement read.
INEC further clarified that no further action would be taken on the recall, in line with its regulations. “Consequently, the petition has not met the requirement of Section 69(a) of the Constitution. Therefore, no further action shall be taken on the recall of the Senator.”
A public notice summarizing the review, including a breakdown of signatures by Local Government Areas, has been made available on INEC’s website and social media platforms.
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