Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello of orchestrating her recall using fake constituents.
Supporters from all five local government areas in Kogi Central gathered on Tuesday in Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area, to welcome the PDP senator.
Despite a government-imposed ban on rallies and processions, Natasha received a warm reception from the crowd.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Natasha challenged Bello to reveal where he allegedly fabricated the names of the fake constituents behind the recall petition.
“All available evidence and facts point directly to Bello as the mastermind behind the recall move,” she said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan further pointed to past incidents, including Bello’s actions during the 2023 General Elections, when he was accused of coordinating multiple attacks against her as a candidate.
Describing the recall attempt as part of Bello’s ongoing political vendetta, the senator added, “I will advise the former governor to rather focus on clearing his name over allegations of fraudulent diversion of N89.2 billion, instead of attempting to destabilise the mandate given to me by the people of Kogi Central.”
She continued, “The former governor’s hands are already full with corruption allegations, yet he is still bent on frustrating the will of the people. His actions before and during the last general elections, where he sponsored numerous attacks against me, are well documented. This recall attempt is nothing but another ploy to undermine the people’s will.”
Meanwhile, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, former Director of Voter Education at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has explained that the process of recalling a lawmaker is similar to conducting three elections.
Speaking on Arise TV, Osaze-Uzzi said, “Money is necessary for all processes. It can be the corruptive influence of money that we were talking about. INEC will spend a lot because if it goes through the whole process, it is akin to conducting three elections.”
He elaborated on the recall process, noting that it begins with the verification of signatures at the polling unit level.
“Verification officers have to go to the field, verify signatures, and all those who endorsed the petition must be present. It requires mobilization, printing materials, deploying personnel, and setting up logistics, which costs money,” he said.
Osaze-Uzzi also pointed out that voter turnout in Nigeria rarely exceeds 50%, adding to the complexity of the process.
“People have to come forward to confirm their signatures, which requires further mobilisation. INEC will mobilise, the legislator being recalled will mobilise, and petitioners will also mobilise. And at the end of it all, INEC will have to demobilise, again, that’s money,” he concluded.
