In a decisive move, the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, has issued an interim injunction preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its agents from accepting any recall petitions tainted with fictitious signatures aimed at deposing Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The court’s ruling, delivered by Justice Isa H. Dashen on March 20, 2025, stemmed from an ex parte application that exposed the manipulation of voter signatures in the Kogi Central Senatorial District.
Advocated by Smart Nwachimere, Esq., the motion argued that such fraudulent petitions undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
The order bars INEC from conducting any referendum based on these spurious documents until the matter is fully resolved.
Critics say the decision underscores systemic vulnerabilities in the recall process, raising questions about political interference and the manipulation of democratic mechanisms.
With mounting concerns over the alleged sponsorship of this petition by politically connected actors, the court’s intervention has sparked debate about the balance between legal safeguards and political expediency.
The case now awaits further proceedings on May 6, 2025, leaving stakeholders wary of how these practices may affect future electoral integrity.
