The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed the petition seeking the recall of the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, citing insufficient signatures.
In a statement issued on Thursday, April 3, 2025, INEC announced that after a thorough review of the signatures and thumbprints submitted by the petitioners, the recall effort fell short of the constitutional requirement.
According to INEC, Section 69(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) mandates that a recall petition must be supported by more than half of the registered voters in the affected constituency.
With 474,554 registered voters in Kogi Central, the petition needed at least 237,278 valid signatures to proceed. However, INEC’s verification process confirmed only 208,132 valid signatures—representing 43.86% of registered voters—falling short by 29,146 signatures.
“As a result, the petition has not met the constitutional requirement, and no further action shall be taken on the recall,” the statement read.
INEC assured the public that due process was followed throughout the review. The senator in question was duly notified, as was the presiding officer of the Senate. The Commission also published updates on its website and social media platforms.
The outcome of the verification has now been made public, with a detailed breakdown of the figures available for review.
This decision, as gathered by the WorldClass247News, puts an end to the recall effort, with the senator retaining their seat in the National Assembly.