SENATOR NATASHA PETITIONS POLICE OVER ALLEGED SIGNATURE FORGERY IN RECALL PROCESS

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Miller Dantawaye, over allegations of signature forgery in the ongoing recall process against her.
The petitions were submitted to the police authorities yesterday afternoon, according to sources close to the senator. The move follows the submission of over 250,000 signatures to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by some constituents led by one Charity Ijese, seeking Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recall.
The recall petition emerged after the senator was suspended from the Senate on March 6 for alleged gross misconduct, shortly after she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment.
Speaking with our correspondent, the senator’s legal representative, Victor Giwa, confirmed the petition, stating: “We are aware that those signatures were forged, and it is the act of APC members in Kogi State, who are desperate to remove her. We have written our petition regarding the forgery, and we are submitting it to the Inspector General of Police, the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, and INEC.”
The legal team has questioned the legitimacy of the signatures, noting suspicions about how over 250,000 constituents could have signed the petition within 10 days when only 120,000 voters participated in the 2023 general election for the senatorial district.
Meanwhile, the Ebira People’s Association has condemned the recall process, describing it as “politically motivated” and “electoral fraud.” The association’s Secretary, Baba Abdulrazaq, accused INEC of providing undue support to what he termed “impostors and dissidents.”
INEC had earlier acknowledged receiving the petition but initially noted it lacked essential contact details of the petitioners. The commission subsequently confirmed that these details had been corrected and notified both Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Akpabio about the development.
Legal experts suggest that the forgery allegations may significantly impact the recall process, which requires verification of signatures at polling units throughout the constituency.