Politics

Natasha Faults INEC, Says Petition For Recall Should Have Been Dismissed

Published

7 months ago

March 26, 2025

The Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission for not outrightly rejecting the petition seeking her recall, describing the commission’s response as an indication of bias.

INEC, in a statement on Tuesday signed by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, confirmed receiving the petition, which reportedly contains signatures from more than half of the 474,554 registered voters in the senatorial district.

However, the electoral body noted that the petition failed to include essential details such as the contact addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of the petitioners, as required under the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024.

In response, Akpoti-Uduaghan, through her lawyer, Victor Giwa, in a letter dated March 26, accused INEC of compromising its neutrality by offering guidance to the petitioners instead of declaring the petition incompetent due to its procedural flaws.

The letter partly reads, “Your position as disclosed in your press release on March 25, 2025, signed by Sam Olumekun shows that the Commission has taken sides and has become partial in favour of the Petitioners in this case.

“The Commission has observed that the Petitioners’ Petition did not meet the threshold of the requirement of a Petition to recall a member, having not contained the required contact addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses in their covering letter forwarding the Petition as contained in Clause 1(f) of INEC Regulation and Guideline. The proper thing and step to have been taken is to declare the Petition as “incompetent” and subsequently disregard same.”

The embattled lawmaker said the proper step INEC should have taken to show it was unbiased in the matter was to declare the petition defective, which would have brought an end to the process.

She added, “Lawfully, the Commission is supposed to have declared the Petition as incompetent for being patently defective for the reasons stated above but surprisingly, the Commission, instead of disregarding the Petition for failure to meet the requirements, opted to take the role of an adviser to the Petitioners and so advised the Petitioners that once they provide the needed information that is not contained in the Petition by meeting the requirements, it shall commence the verification of the signatures in each polling units.

“We posit that the Commission has by this press release shown partisanship and partiality in favour of the Petitioner and has compromised the process.

“The proper step to take by the Commission, if the Commission will maintain its integrity and impartiality, is to declare the Petition as incompetent and defective and notify the Petitioners accordingly. Therefore, putting an end to this process at this stage.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan also pointed out that the addresses provided in the petition were limited to Okene, Kogi State, suggesting that the alleged signatures did not represent the entire senatorial district.

“Secondly, the address disclosed and provided in the petition according to your press release was Okene Kogi State, meaning that the two hundred and fifty signatories as contained in the petition came only from Okene, Kogi state, which seems more probable, ” She said.

She insisted that INEC’s decision to allow the petitioners to correct their errors rather than disqualifying the petition outright was a breach of due process, urging the commission to “do the needful and rebuild the public trust that is fast declining.
We still believe that the Commission will act rightly”.

Politics

Jonathan’s Ex-aide Dumps PDP For APC

Published

4 hours ago

October 18, 2025

Editor

A former Senior Special Assistant on Domestic Matters and Social Events to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Waripamo-owei Dudafa, has formally announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party and joined the All Progressive Congress.

Dudafa, a former member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, announced his resignation from the PDP in a statement he issued on Saturday in Yenagoa.

In the letter of resignation addressed to the Chairman, PDP, Southern Opokuma/Ayibabiri Ward 8 in Kolokuma Opukuma Local Government Area, he stated that his decision to quit the PDP followed a period of deep reflection and consultation with his political associates, supporters, and family members.

The letter read in part: “It is with a heavy heart that I tender my resignation from the People’s Democratic Party effective immediately. Throughout my time with the party, I have been deeply committed to our shared values and goals, and it has been an honour to work with so many dedicated individuals.”

Dudafa stated that the unresolved disputes, particularly at the national level, “have significantly impeded our ability to move forward, rather they create an environment of conflict that’s no longer conducive to advancing the shared values and objectives.”

He said: “While this decision has been difficult, I remain committed to serving the best interests of our people, motivated by my dedication to their welfare and progress.”

Announcing his decision to join the APC, he said: “After careful reflection and consideration, I have decided to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), a platform I believe offers renewed hope, unity and a stronger foundation to address the challenges facing our dear state.”

To the members of the APC, Dudafa wrote, “I look forward to working alongside new colleagues who share this vision.”

He expressed appreciation to the PDP for the relationships and experiences he gained during his time in the PDP and wished the party well in overcoming its present challenges.

Political observers are of the opinion that his resignation could signal realignments ahead of future political developments in Bayelsa State and at the national level.

Politics

Why Wike Is Always Attacking Peter Obi — Obidient Movement

Published

2 days ago

October 17, 2025

Editor

The Obidient Movement has criticised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over his recent comments describing Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, as a “social media president.”

Wike had, on Thursday, accused Obi of playing politics with national issues after the former Anambra State governor visited a local authority school in the FCT and lamented the poor condition of public facilities.

“I hear one of the social media presidential candidates went to a local authority school and said the government has abandoned public schools. His name is Mr Peter Obi. It’s not everything you must play politics with,” Wike had said.

However, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Yunusa Tanko, dismissed Wike’s comments, saying they were aimed at keeping the minister in the news.

“How will Wike sell his market if he doesn’t mention Peter Obi?” Tanko asked. “As I am talking to you, you need to see the mammoth crowd we have in our town hall meeting here in Nnewi (Anambra State).”

Tanko further dismissed the FCT minister as the least of the Obi and his followers’ worries and defended Obi’s comments on the state of public schools in the country’s capital, insisting that the Wike merely drew attention to a national concern.

He stressed that Obi’s comment on the state of public facilities in the FCT was to point out that they are in dire need of attention, saying, “I was there on the ground and saw those dilapidated buildings. We also visited a clinic where only one nurse was on duty. Even the roads to the place are not easily accessible.”

Politics

JUST IN: Rivers Cancels N134bn Secretariat Contract, Demands N20bn Refund

Published

2 days ago

October 16, 2025

Editor

The Rivers State Executive Council has cancelled a ₦134 billion contract awarded by the former sole administrator of the state, Vice Admiral Ikot Ete Ibas (retd), for the reconstruction of the State Secretariat complex in Port Harcourt.

The contract, awarded to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation during the period of emergency rule under Ibas, was nullified by the Council at its meeting on Thursday.

Following the cancellation, the Council directed CCECC to refund the ₦20 billion mobilisation fee already paid for the project.

Also, the Council approved the constitution of a six-member committee chaired by Deputy Governor Prof. Ngozi Odu to assess and recommend suitable locations for the construction of Computer-Based Test centres across the state to support external examinations.

The Council also mandated the state’s flood control committee, also headed by Odu, to take urgent measures to mitigate flooding in affected areas, while cautioning residents against blocking drainage channels.

More to come…