Court restrains INEC from receiving petition for recall of Natasha

The Federal High Court sitting at Lokoja on Thursday, 20th March, 20251 granted an interim injunction restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from receiving petition for the purpose of initiating a re-call process against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The competent Court also restricted INEC staff, agents, privies or assigns from accepting or acting on any petition containing fictitious signatures of purported members of Kogi Central Senatorial District and conducting any referendum upon such pending the determination of the Motion on Notice to the same effect.

The court, according to the order paper made available to newsnen Friday morning, granted the application following an Ex-parte application for interim injunction supported by an Affidavit of Extreme urgency together with other court processes sworn to by Anebe Jacob Ogirima for himself and four others who are registered voters and constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District of Kogi state.

The application was moved by Smart Nwachimere, Esq of West-Idahosa, SAN & Co.

The case has been adjourned to 6th May, 2025 for report of service and further mention.

Reacting to the development, a pressure group, Action Collective, praised the judiciary for granting the order.

The group’s coordinator, Dr. Onimisi Ibrahim, said in his reaction that “the order will further expose impunity of some sponsored individuals behind the failed plot to recall Senator Natasha.”