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INEC Rejects Recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

by Women Times on

By Prosper Mene 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially rejected a petition seeking the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, citing its failure to meet constitutional requirements.

 

In a statement released on Thursday, INEC disclosed that the petition, submitted by some constituents of Kogi Central, did not satisfy Section 69(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

This section mandates that a recall petition must be supported by signatures from more than half of the registered voters in the constituency. With Kogi Central having 474,554 registered voters, the petition required at least 237,278 valid signatures to proceed. However, after a thorough verification process, INEC confirmed only 208,132 signatures, equating to 43.86%—falling short by 29,146 signatures.

“The petition for the recall of the Senator representing the Kogi Central Senatorial District has not met the requirement of Section 69(a) of the Constitution. Therefore, no further action shall be taken on the matter,” INEC stated via its official X account, @INECNigeria.

The recall effort stemmed from controversy surrounding Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended from the Senate on March 6, 2025, for alleged “gross misconduct” following a dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Some constituents, citing her suspension and dissatisfaction with her conduct, initiated the recall process, submitting the petition to INEC on March 24. The commission had initially acknowledged receipt of the petition, accompanied by six bags of documents purportedly containing over 250,000 signatures.

Despite the petitioners’ claims, INEC’s verification revealed discrepancies, including the cancellation of approximately 35,000 signatures during the administrative review. The constituents, led by spokesperson Salihu Habib, expressed frustration but vowed to persist, asserting that the validated 43.86% still reflected widespread discontent with the senator. “We will liaise with INEC within the full ambit of the constitution to demand transparency,” Habib said in a statement, hinting at potential further action.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, however, celebrated the decision as a victory for democracy. In a post on Social Media, she praised INEC, stating, “INEC Nigeria, you did well. Senator Natasha H Akpoti Uduaghan Proudly Kogi Central.” In a subsequent statement, she took a swipe at her detractors, including former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, claiming, “God has put to shame anti-democratic forces plotting my recall, including one of the most wanted persons by the EFCC.”

INEC emphasized that the review adhered to its 2024 Regulations and Guidelines for Recall, ensuring fairness and due process. Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, defended the commission’s impartiality on Channels Television’s Politics Today, dismissing allegations of bias. “The petitioners failed to meet legal requirements. There’s no partisanship here,” he said.

The rejection marks the end of this recall attempt, though questions linger about whether the process could be reinitiated. Oyekanmi noted that the law does not explicitly limit repeat petitions, leaving room for speculation about future political maneuvers in Kogi Central.

 

 

 

 

 

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Nigerian Women in Politics: Triumphs Shadowed by Turmoil.

by Women Times on

 

By Prosper Mene 

In Nigeria’s political arena, women are scripting a story of striking contrasts—celebrated trailblazers breaking barriers, yet battling a relentless tide of sexism and exclusion. Today, this duality took center stage as public discourse spotlighted both the triumphs and tribulations of Nigerian women in leadership, a narrative unfolding against the backdrop of a nation where female representation remains stubbornly low.

The triumphs are undeniable. Figures like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the globally lauded Director-General of the World Trade Organization, and Aisha Yesufu, the firebrand activist who co-founded the #BringBackOurGirls movement, stand as beacons of what Nigerian women can achieve. Their names trended online today, praised for reshaping narratives of leadership and resilience. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of just four women in Nigeria’s 109-member Senate, joined their ranks—her recent defiance against alleged harassment by Senate President Godswill Akpabio earning her widespread admiration. “These women are proof we belong at the table,” said Kemi Adebayo, a political analyst in Lagos. “They’re not just surviving—they’re rewriting the rules.”

 

Yet, the turmoil is equally stark. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s story took a dramatic turn today when the judge hearing her appeal against a six-month Senate suspension withdrew, citing pressure from Akpabio’s camp. The suspension, handed down after she accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, has ignited outrage among women’s groups, who see it as a blatant attempt to muzzle dissent. “This is what happens when women speak truth to power in Nigeria,” said activist Oby Ezekwesili, herself verbally attacked by a pro-Akpabio senator this week. The episode underscores a grim reality: with women holding just 3.7% of National Assembly seats—ranking Nigeria 179th globally for female representation, per UN data—progress remains a battlefield.

 

Social media captured the tension vividly. Posts today hailed heroines like Okonjo-Iweala and Yesufu, while others lambasted women like First Lady Remi Tinubu and Abike Dabiri-Erewa, head of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, for allegedly aligning with controversial political agendas. “We celebrate the queens who lift us up, but call out those who prop up the system dragging us down,” one X user wrote, summing up the polarized sentiment. The criticism reflects a broader frustration: even as some women ascend, others are seen as complicit in a patriarchy that keeps most locked out.

 

The numbers tell a sobering tale. Since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, female representation has barely budged, a stark contrast to neighbors like Rwanda, where women hold over 60% of parliamentary seats. Cultural barriers—derogatory labels like “prostitute” hurled at female candidates, as seen in past Bauchi elections—and structural hurdles like exorbitant campaign costs keep the glass ceiling intact. “It’s not enough to have a few stars,” said Funmi Oladele, a gender studies professor at the University of Ibadan. “We need a system that lets every woman with vision step forward.”

 

Today’s developments hint at both hope and hurdles. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s fight has galvanized women’s networks, with protests planned in Abuja next week. Meanwhile, younger voices—like 28-year-old Zainab Yusuf, who announced her 2027 candidacy for a state assembly seat—signal a rising tide. “I’m inspired by the triumphs, but I’m running because of the turmoil,” Yusuf said. “We can’t wait for permission anym

ore.”

This gives an insight on the struggles and wins of women in the Nigerian political landscape.
(more…)

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Senator Natasha’s Suspension Battle Intensifies: Judge Steps Down Amid Bias Claims.

by Women Times on

By Prosper Mene 

The legal fight over Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s controversial six-month suspension from the Nigerian Senate took a dramatic turn today as Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja recused himself from her case. The judge’s withdrawal, prompted by a petition from Senate President Godswill Akpabio alleging bias, has thrown yet another wrench into the embattled senator’s bid to overturn what she calls an “illegal” punishment, escalating a saga that has gripped the nation.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central and one of only four women in the 109-member Senate, was suspended without pay on March 6 following her allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio. The suspension, upheld by a majority vote after the Senate ethics committee dismissed her petition on procedural grounds, stripped her of security details, barred her from the National Assembly, and halted her salaries—measures she and her supporters decry as vindictive. Today’s courtroom twist came as Egwuatu stepped aside, citing Akpabio’s challenge to his impartiality, and returned the case file to the Chief Judge for reassignment. No new hearing date has been set, leaving the senator’s fate in limbo.

The escalation has fueled outrage among women’s rights advocates and Akpoti-Uduaghan’s constituents, who see the suspension as a blatant attempt to silence a rare female voice in Nigeria’s male-dominated legislature. “This is a travesty,” said Chioma Agwuegbo, executive director of TechHerNG, a women’s rights group. “The Senate’s actions, now compounded by this judicial delay, send a chilling message: speak out, and you’ll be crushed.” Protests erupted outside the National Assembly earlier this month, with supporters chanting “Akpabio must go,” while counter-demonstrations backing the Senate president underscored the polarized public response.

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s troubles began in February when a seating dispute in the Senate chamber spiraled into a public clash with Akpabio. She accused him of tying her legislative motions to demands for sexual favors—an explosive claim he denies. The Senate insists her suspension stems not from the harassment allegations but from “gross misconduct,” including disruptive behavior and defiance of chamber rules. Yet, critics, including human rights lawyer Femi Falana, call it “legislative recklessness,” arguing it flouts natural justice and disenfranchises Kogi Central voters.

The legal battle has been fraught from the start. Egwuatu had issued an interim order on March 4 halting the Senate’s disciplinary process, only for the ethics committee to proceed anyway—a move Akpoti-Uduaghan’s team branded as contemptuous. Akpabio, meanwhile, has fought back, filing an appeal on March 20 to stay the High Court proceedings, claiming the judge’s rulings undermined legal norms. Today’s recusal hands him a tactical win, though it delays resolution further.

Public sentiment, especially online, is a cauldron of anger and support. Akpoti-Uduaghan, undeterred, has taken her case global, addressing the United Nations earlier this month and vowing to continue serving her people “till 2027 and beyond.”

 

 

 

 

 

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