In a significant legal development, the Federal High Court sitting at Lokoja has granted an interim injunction restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from receiving, accepting, or acting upon any petition aimed at initiating the recall process of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the representative of Kogi Central Senatorial District.
The ruling was delivered on Thursday, March 20, 2025, following an urgent application for an interim injunction filed before the court.
The court’s decision bars INEC, its agents, and any of its assigns from receiving or considering petitions that contain fictitious signatures of purported members of the Kogi Central Senatorial District.
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The injunction also prohibits the commission from conducting any referendum or other activities related to the recall process until further notice.
The case stems from an Ex-parte application moved by Smart Nwachimere, Esq., on behalf of the plaintiffs, which was supported by an affidavit sworn by Anebe Jacob Ogirima and four other registered voters from Kogi Central.
The plaintiffs contended that the petition seeking to initiate Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recall process was invalid because it was based on forged signatures.
The interim order was issued following a demonstration of “extreme urgency” by the applicants, who argued that the legitimacy of the recall petition was in question.
The court’s ruling effectively halts any immediate moves by INEC to entertain the petition or proceed with the recall process.
The case has been adjourned to May 6, 2025, for a report of service and further mention, where the court will consider the progress of the legal proceedings and decide on the next steps.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central in the Senate, has been a prominent political figure in the region.
The recall petition, which has now been temporarily blocked, had stirred considerable political debate, with proponents and opponents of the senator weighing in on the matter.
This interim injunction represents a crucial moment in the ongoing legal battle. It underscores the importance of verifying the authenticity of petitions in the democratic process and ensures that any attempt to initiate a recall is not based on fraudulent grounds.
The legal community and Kogi Central constituents will closely follow the proceedings as the case progresses in the coming months.
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