The embattled Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Miller Dantawaye, over allegations of forgery in the ongoing recall process against her.
The senator claims that the signatures submitted in the petition seeking her removal were forged, calling for an immediate investigation.
The petitions were officially submitted on Friday, according to sources close to the senator. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team, led by Victor Giwa, has also indicated that a copy of the petition will be forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which is currently handling the recall process.
Background of the Recall Petition
The move to recall Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan follows a petition submitted by some of her constituents, led by one Charity Ijese, to INEC in Abuja. The petition, reportedly signed by over 250,000 individuals, seeks her removal from office following her suspension from the Senate on March 6 for alleged gross misconduct.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension came shortly after she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, a claim that has sparked political controversy. While the recall petition has gained traction, critics and the senator’s supporters have raised serious concerns about its legitimacy.
Forgery Allegations and Investigation Demands
Shortly after INEC confirmed receipt of the recall petition, discrepancies in the submission came to light.
The electoral body initially noted that the petition lacked critical details such as contact addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of the signatories.
However, INEC later stated that the missing information had been corrected and informed both Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate leadership of the development.
Despite this, skepticism grew when leaked video clips surfaced online, allegedly showing politicians in Kogi State appending signatures to the petition.
Doubts intensified as observers questioned how over 250,000 people could have signed the recall petition within 10 days, especially when only 120,000 people voted in the 2023 senatorial election for Kogi Central.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal counsel, Victor Giwa, has insisted that the signatures were forged by political opponents affiliated with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State. He emphasized that this was a criminal matter that required police intervention rather than mere verification by INEC.
“Firstly, we are aware that those signatures were forged, and it is the act of APC members in Kogi State, who are desperate to remove her. Secondly, we are prosecuting the case in court.
We have written our petition regarding the forgery, and we are submitting it to the Inspector-General of Police, the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, and INEC. Before 1 pm today (Friday), they would have received it,” Giwa said.
He added, “INEC does not have the materials to examine a case of forgery. What they are expected to do is compare whether the signatures correspond with the ones signed by the owners.
But we are alleging that it is a case of forgery, and only the police can handle cases of forgery.
Let the petitioners present the signatures, and let the police subject them to forensic tests for us to confirm that they were not forged.”
INEC’s Role and the Next Steps
Following the receipt of the recall petition, INEC is expected to embark on a signature verification process at polling units within Kogi Central. However, Giwa has argued that the forgery allegations must first be resolved before INEC can proceed with the verification exercise.
He stressed that since a related case is already in court, any further action by INEC should be put on hold pending legal clarification.
“The case is in court, and INEC is aware. Secondly, we are now dealing with allegations of fraud. Some people submitted certain signatures, and others claim they were forged, which is a criminal matter.
So, as an institution, I believe INEC would need to submit the signatures to the police to confirm whether or not there is forgery. And this should come before the verification exercise,” he stated.
Reactions from Kinsmen and Political Groups
Meanwhile, the Ebira People’s Association has condemned the recall process, describing it as a politically motivated attempt to undermine democracy. The association’s secretary, Baba Abdulrazaq, criticized the move as an “electoral fraud” and a “coup against democratic institutions.”
“The Independent National Electoral Commission has illegally provided support to impostors, dissidents, and petitioners who claim to have gathered 250,000 forged and stolen signatures,” Abdulrazaq stated.
He urged INEC to maintain neutrality and resist being used as a political tool to subvert the people’s mandate.
The association accused INEC of lending credibility to an illegitimate recall effort by accepting the petition despite glaring irregularities.
They called on the electoral body to conduct due diligence in verifying the authenticity of the signatures submitted and to collaborate with law enforcement agencies in investigating the forgery allegations.
As the recall process unfolds, the controversy surrounding Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension and the petition against her continues to deepen.
The coming days will determine whether the police will launch a forensic investigation into the alleged forgery and whether INEC will pause its verification process in light of the ongoing court case.
For now, the senator and her legal team remain firm in their stance that the recall petition is fraudulent, and they are prepared to challenge it in every legal forum available.
With political tensions rising in Kogi State, all eyes will be on INEC, the police, and the judiciary as they navigate this highly contentious issue.
