ABUJA, Nigeria – The ongoing political drama surrounding suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has intensified, as reports emerge that her constituents are pushing for her immediate recall from the Senate.
The call for her removal comes amid Akpoti-Uduaghan’s continued suspension following allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) held a crucial meeting on the recall process on Monday, March 24, 2025, as calls from the Kogi Central Senatorial District to remove Akpoti-Uduaghan gained traction.
The senator has been under suspension for six months after a disagreement with Senate leadership, particularly after accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment, a claim she has vehemently defended.
Despite the growing demand for her removal, Akpoti-Uduaghan has strongly denied recent reports suggesting that she apologised to the Senate over the incident.
In a statement issued on Monday, March 24, 2025, the senator called the reports “false and misleading,” reiterating that she stands by her position and has not apologised to anyone regarding the matter.
“The purported reports circulating that I have apologised to the Senate and retracted my position are completely untrue. I stand firmly by my words and actions, and I have not issued any apology to the Senate or anyone regarding this matter,” she said.
The senator also criticised those spreading the false reports, accusing them of attempting to distort the truth and manipulate public perception.
“It is unfortunate that some individuals are peddling falsehoods in an attempt to distort the truth and mislead the public,” she added, reaffirming her commitment to truth, justice, and her constituents.
At the same time, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s constituents have made their voice heard, submitting a petition to INEC at its headquarters in Abuja, calling for her recall.
The petition, which was reportedly signed by more than half of the registered voters in Kogi Central, accuses the senator of “gross misconduct, abuse of office, evasion of due process, and a pattern of deceitful behaviour” that has tarnished the integrity of both the Senate and Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
“We hereby invoke our rights under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to formally demand the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Nigerian Senate,” the petition states.
Leading the call for her recall, Omole Charity, a representative of the group, declared, “We, the ones who voted her in, have now decided to recall her.”
The recall petition was filed just days after a court ruling allowed the process to proceed, overturning a previous injunction that had sought to restrain INEC from acting on the petition.
The Federal High Court in Lokoja ruled that the recall was constitutionally valid and urged the constituents to pursue their request in a peaceful and orderly manner.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, however, remains defiant. “I, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, stand firm in my resolve to never apologise for speaking my truth. The desperation to silence me is palpable, but I will not be intimidated,” she vowed.
