A Federal High Court in Lokoja has issued an interim order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting petitions to initiate a recall process against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District.
Justice Isa Dashen granted the order on Friday, following an ex-parte application filed by counsel Smart Nwachimere of West-Idahosa, SAN & Co on behalf of the applicants.
The applicants—Anebe Jacob Ogirma, John Adebosi, Musa Adeiza, Ahmed Usman, and Maleek Yahaya—had urged the court to stop INEC from receiving any recall petitions pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.
Their request was supported by an Affidavit of Extreme Urgency, highlighting the ongoing signature collection for Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recall across the district’s local government areas.
Granting the injunction, Justice Dashen ordered that INEC be served with the court order and the motion on notice. The case was adjourned to May 6 for a report on service and further proceedings.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) earlier reported that some constituents in Kogi Central had allegedly begun collecting signatures of registered voters as part of a process to recall Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan from the National Assembly.
