Supporters from the five local council areas of Kogi Central convened in Ihima, located in the Okehi Local Council Area, on Tuesday to greet the PDP lawmaker.
Despite a government-imposed ban on rallies and processions, Natasha was met with an enthusiastic reception from her supporters.
In a statement released yesterday, the senator challenged Bello to disclose the origin of the names of the purported constituents advocating for her recall.
She asserted, “All existing evidence and facts clearly indicate that Bello is the architect behind the recall initiative.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan referenced Bello’s previous actions before and during the 2023 General Elections, during which he was accused of orchestrating various attacks against her as a candidate.
The senator characterized the recall effort as a continuation of Bello’s political vendetta against her.
“I would advise the former governor to concentrate on addressing the allegations of fraudulent diversion of N89.2 billion, rather than attempting to disrupt the mandate entrusted to me by the people of Kogi Central.
“Despite being embroiled in corruption allegations, the former governor remains intent on undermining the will of the populace.
“His documented actions before and during the last general elections, where he funded numerous attacks against me, illustrate that this recall attempt is merely another strategy to subvert the people’s choice,” she stated.
In a related development, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, a former Director of Voter Education at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), remarked that the process of recalling lawmakers is comparable to conducting three separate elections.
Osaze-Uzzi made these comments during an Arise TV program yesterday.
“Financial resources are essential for all processes. The corrupting influence of money is a significant concern. INEC will incur substantial expenses, as the entire process resembles conducting three elections,” he explained.
He elaborated that the recall process initiates with the verification of signatures, which must occur at the polling unit level.
Verification officers are required to visit the field to authenticate signatures, and it is essential for all individuals who endorsed the petition to be present. This process necessitates mobilization, the printing of materials, the deployment of personnel, and the organization of logistics, all of which incur costs, Osaze-Uzzi explained.
The former INEC official pointed out that voter turnout in Nigeria seldom surpasses 50 percent, which adds to the challenges of the recall procedure.
“Individuals must step forward to validate their signatures, necessitating additional mobilization efforts. INEC will engage in mobilization, the legislator facing recall will also mobilize, and the petitioners will need to do the same. Ultimately, INEC will have to demobilize, which again involves financial expenditure,” he stated.
