A Federal High Court in Lokoja has stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission from accepting or acting on a recall petition against the suspended senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The ruling came on Thursday after the court granted an interim injunction following a case filed by some registered voters from Kogi Central.
The move to recall the senator gained momentum on Wednesday after some constituents began the process. However, INEC stated that it had no knowledge of the petition.
The push for her removal follows her suspension from the Senate after a disagreement with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over seating arrangements.
The court order, which was granted after an ex-parte application, prevents INEC from taking any action on the recall process until the motion is determined.
The application was moved by Smart Nwachimere of West-Idahosa, SAN & Co, and the case has been adjourned to May 6, 2025, for further mention.
The court ruled:”An interim injunction is granted restraining the defendant, staff, agents, privies or assigns from receiving, accepting, or acting in any way whatsoever on any purported petitions submitted to the defendant by any person or persons, containing fictitious signatures and names of purported members of the said district and conducting any referendum to initiate a recall process of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as senator pending the determination of the motion.”
The court further directed that the order and motion on notice be served on INEC before the next hearing.
