Nigeria’s ongoing experiment with the recall process has once again sparked political tension, drama, and anxiety.
Just two weeks ago, constituents of Kogi Central initiated a recall process against their senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, following her suspension from the Senate over alleged misconduct.
For context, Senator Natasha was suspended for six months by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen.
The suspension followed a heated exchange between the Kogi senator and Senate President Godswill Akpabio over a seat rearrangement.
While Natasha later accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, her constituents insisted the recall was necessary because she was no longer representing their interests, arguing that her suspension effectively denied them representation for six months.
After a court in Lokoja lifted its injunction, the constituents proceeded with the process.
On Monday, March 24, 2025, a petition containing six bags of signatures from Natasha’s constituents was submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
One of the petitioners, Mrs. Charity Omole, stated, “Over half of the 474,554 registered voters spread across 902 polling units in 57 registration areas (wards) in the five local government areas of Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi, and Okene signed the petition.”
However, INEC has raised concerns over the petition, stating that it “lacks contact details to meet requirements.”
The commission emphasized that the recall process is guided by the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC’s detailed Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, assuring that “all petitions will be treated in strict compliance with the legal framework.”
While past recall attempts have largely failed, Natasha’s case is not the first in Nigeria since the return of democracy in 1999.
Some lawmakers who have faced similar situations include:
Architect George Ike Okoye
In 2000, the first recorded recall attempt in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic targeted Architect Okoye, who represented Njikoka II State Constituency in Anambra State under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Following a petition submitted to INEC, a referendum was conducted.
However, Okoye challenged the process, claiming that the signatories in the petition were different from those in the voters’ register.
He also secured a court order restraining INEC from proceeding.
Nonetheless, INEC appealed the matter and obtained a favorable ruling.
However, the recall process ultimately failed at the referendum stage due to low voter turnout.
Simon Lalong
Lalong, who was then Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, also faced a recall attempt. Like Okoye, his recall process stalled at the referendum stage.
The exercise failed because it did not secure the required 50 percent of registered voters in the Shendam State Constituency.
Despite this, Lalong went on to become governor of Plateau State and is now a senator in the National Assembly.
Farouk Adamu
Farouk, who represented Birnin-Kudu/Buji Federal Constituency of Jigawa State in the House of Representatives, was also targeted for recall.
INEC conducted a referendum on August 12, 2006, where 61,117 constituents voted in favor of his recall, while 20,324 opposed it.
However, despite the margin, the process failed to meet INEC’s full requirements, and Farouk retained his seat.
Dino Melaye
Before Natasha, one of the most widely known recall attempts involved former Senator Dino Melaye, also from Kogi State.
In 2017, a group called “Concerned Indigenes of Kogi West” launched the “Dino-Must-Go” campaign.
The petitioners submitted six bags of documents containing signatures from voters across six council areas in the senatorial district to INEC on May 21, 2017.
According to their petition, the recall secured endorsements from 52.3 percent of the 360,000 registered voters in the district—more than the required 50.1 percent.
Melaye dismissed the recall attempt as a “comedy of errors” and accused the then-state governor, Yahaya Bello, of orchestrating the move.
INEC proceeded with the process, notifying Melaye and unveiling a timetable for the exercise.
However, the recall attempt stalled after an Abuja Federal High Court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo.
Other Lawmakers Who Faced Recall Threats
Beyond these cases, some lawmakers have been threatened with recall, though their constituents never formally submitted petitions to INEC.
Among them was former Senate President Bukola Saraki, whom the Kwara Youth Stakeholders Forum (KYSF) threatened to recall over a dispute between the National Assembly and the federal government.
Other lawmakers who faced recall threats include:
- Abdulmumin Jibrin Kofa, who represented Bebeji/Kiru Federal Constituency of Kano State.
- Senator Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi, who represented Kaduna North Senatorial District.
- Senator Sunny Ogbuoji, who represented Ebonyi South Senatorial District.
DAILY GAZETTE reports that Nigeria’s recall process has yet to succeed.
