Court Bars INEC From Accepting Petition To Recall Senator Natasha Akpoti

A Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, has issued an interim order preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or acting on any recall petition against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan that contains fake signatures.

Justice Isa H. Dashen granted the injunction in response to a suit (FHC/LKJ/CS/13/2025) filed by five registered voters from Kogi Central Senatorial District.

The plaintiffs, represented by lawyer Smart Nwachimere of West-Idahosa, SAN & Co., argued that the recall process was being manipulated with fraudulent signatures.

The court’s order bars INEC and its agents from proceeding with a referendum to initiate Senator Natasha Akpoti’s recall until the case is fully heard.

The presiding judge while granting the prayers of the applicants, said

“Upon this Motion Ex-parte dated March 19, 2025, and filed on March 20, 2025, in the Registry of this Honourable Court, praying the Court for the following reliefs:

An order of interim injunction restraining the Defendant (INEC), their staff, agents, privies, or assigns from receiving, accepting, or acting in any way whatsoever on any purported petition submitted by any person or persons containing fictitious signatures and names of purported members of Kogi Central Senatorial District.

The order also restrains INEC from conducting any referendum upon such a petition for the purpose of initiating a recall process of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.”

The judge set May 6, 2025, as the return date for further proceedings.

This ruling comes just days after some constituents, allegedly backed by the senator’s political rivals, began gathering signatures for her recall.

Viral videos showed people lining up to sign the petition, an effort that followed her recent allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

KanyiDaily recalls that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was recently suspended following a dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over seating arrangements on February 20.