In order to uphold transparency and ensure due process, stakeholders involved in Nigeria’s democratic process have urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Peoples Democratic Party, Kogi Central) with the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the petition aimed at her recall. After dismissing the initial petition due to non-compliance with constitutional requirements, a new petition is reportedly being drafted.
In a correspondence signed by Anthony Ubani, Executive Director of #FixPolitics Africa, and Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Executive Director of the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, the stakeholders requested that the commission ensure Akpoti-Uduaghan receives the CTC of the first petition prior to the acceptance of a second petition.
The Transition Monitoring Group and Enough is Enough Nigeria have also supported this appeal. The letter stated: ‘We acknowledge that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has sought the CTC of the recall petition submitted against her.
Furthermore, following the commission’s declaration that the petition did not fulfill the necessary criteria, the petitioners are in the process of gathering additional signatures with the intention of resubmitting the petition. We recognize that allegations of forged signatures can only be investigated by law enforcement, and the genuine level of support for the recall initiative will only be revealed if the commission conducts field verification.’
