ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Residents of Kogi Central Senatorial District have initiated a recall process against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, stating that she needs to return home to learn “purposeful representation.”
In a statement released on Friday in Lokoja, the Kogi Central Elites Forum (KCEF), comprising representatives from the five Local Government Areas of the district, declared their intent to recall the senator.
NAN reports that the statement was signed by Mr. Ibrahim Abdulazeez Ibrahim (President) and Mr. Akerejola Johnson (Secretary).
The group, made up of Ebira indigenes like Akpoti-Uduaghan, expressed dissatisfaction with her conduct, particularly regarding an alleged embarrassment she brought upon the district on an international scale.
The forum dismissed suggestions that the recall effort lacked majority support, urging the public to disregard claims that people were misled into participating in the process.
“No one is sponsoring this recall. Our people are largely united on this cause. From the history of Ebiras, you know we cannot be deceived,” the statement read.
“Even some of us who supported her on social media in the past are no longer with her. We cannot trade the integrity of our state and Nigeria.
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“A matter as simple as not taking an assigned seat in the Senate should not have escalated into a ‘sexual harassment’ controversy of this magnitude. This is not who we are as Ebiras.”
The group while addressing reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), disowned the recall effort, and clarified that INEC’s role only begins after the signature collection phase is completed.
“INEC has no official role until after this signature collection phase. We are the ones driving this recall as petitioners. We must meet the required threshold before formally presenting it for verification. This is where INEC comes in,” they explained.
The group also accused certain politicians of attempting to distort the recall process for personal or political reasons.
“For us as Ebira people, we are determined to recall Akpoti-Uduaghan. While she is at home, she may learn the rudiments of representing her constituents better,” the statement emphasized.
“Ordinarily, we would never have allowed anyone to intimidate our daughter if she was in the right. But in this particular instance, she disrespected the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which has clear rules, and introduced narratives that have never been heard of in the history of the Senate.
“This is not about content creation like many have suggested”, the group said.
The National Assembly has recently been engulfed in allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The controversy erupted after Akpoti-Uduaghan allegedly failed to adhere to Senate rules and was penalized.
Despite the ongoing debate, the Kogi Central Elites Forum insists on forging ahead with the recall process, maintaining that their actions are in the best interest of the senatorial district.