The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed receiving a petition seeking the recall of the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District. However, while the petition has garnered significant attention, it faces a key compliance hurdle.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, INEC disclosed that the petition was reviewed during its routine weekly meeting. Notably, the submission arrived in six large bags containing documents with signatures reportedly from over half of the 474,554 registered voters in Kogi Central. The signatories were drawn from 902 polling units across the five Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the district—Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi, and Okene.
Despite the impressive volume of submissions, the Commission identified a major shortcoming: the petition lacked adequate contact information. INEC revealed that apart from the lead petitioner’s phone number, there were no comprehensive addresses or emails for petitioners’ representatives. This omission contravenes Clause 1(f) of INEC’s 2024 Regulations and Guidelines for Recall, which mandates full contact details for proper verification.
INEC reassured the public that once the petition meets all legal requirements, the next step will be the verification of signatures using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) at designated polling units. The Commission emphasized that only verified registered voters who signed the petition will be included in the process, while accredited observers, including media representatives, will be allowed to monitor the exercise.
Meanwhile, INEC is making efforts to reach the petitioners through alternative channels due to the incomplete contact information. The Commission also urged the public to disregard any misinformation or speculative narratives circulating online, stressing that due process must be followed.
At the core of this development, INEC reaffirmed that the power of recall rests with the electorate, and its role remains to ensure that the process is conducted within the confines of the law. Nigerians, especially stakeholders in Kogi Central, now await the next steps as the political landscape in the district continues to evolve.
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