The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said it binned the petition to recall Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, because the initiators did not observe due diligence.
A source told Daily Sun that apart from the petition failing to meet the Constitutional requirement of Section 69(a), those behind the recall were not meticulous in prosecuting the process.
The source said: “Even if there was any external pressure on the commission to accept the recall or higher power backing the commission to take the final decision it took, the petitioners woefully failed in prosecuting the processes in a convincing manner.
“In a situation like the one at hand, it was easy for the commission to hide under the Constitution of Nigeria to take the final decision it took. It was just obvious that the petitioners did not just do due diligence in approaching the recall. The failure was obvious during the verification process,” the source said.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the recall bid flopped because it was not based on truth.
The party’s spokesman, Debo Ologunagba, boasted that the Kogi Central senator, who is also a member of the PDP, has been giving her constituents effective representation and she was well loved by her people.
“We knew from day one that it would not will succeed because it was instigated by the opposition. It was not based on the truth. It was concocted.
“We know from day one that it will fail. All those fake signatures. And now, INEC has confirmed that it did not meet the requirement. “
The opposition spokesman noted that with the failure of the process, the Senate should lift the suspension on her so that she can continue to represent her people.
“What is left is for the leadership of the Senate to ensure that they bring her back to the Senate to continue to represent her people creditably, so that she can perform her duties.
“In the first instance, we had condemned the illegal and arbitrary suspension, which again shows that the leadership of the Senate, as presently constituted, has always been a challenge to the freedom of expression.
“Now that this attempt has failed the Senate should call her back and let her continue to do her job effectively for the people of Kogi Central.”
But in a statement, signed by Salihu Habib, on behalf of the petitioners, the constituents insisted that there was no going back on their resolve to bring the Kogi Senator back home.
“We will liaise with INEC within the full ambits of the Constitution and regulations to demand for transparency in the handling of our petition. We have utmost confidence in the Commission not to subject the recall process to ambiguity or administrative opacity,” the constituents said.
They expressed their gratitude to INEC for proving naysayers, who queried the authenticity of their figures, wrong.
“We thank INEC for making it clear that the bulk of the people of Kogi Central are behind us and that we did not import a crowd like a desperate, embattled lawmaker,” they said.
The petitioners insisted that the recall of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan “for misconduct and divisiveness” was non-negotiable.
“We are firm in our resolve to restore dignified and collaborative representation to Kogi Central Senatorial District. We will no longer indulge someone who will do and say anything just to remain politically relevant.
“The whole of Nigeria watched her deceptive rally last Tuesday where she openly made comments capable of setting, not just Kogi State, but Nigeria ablaze.
“How can any patriotic Nigerian accuse other parts of the country of sabotaging Kogi State/the North because LNG plants are sited here? How can a responsible Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria try to pitch the North against the South?”
“We will pursue all lawful and constitutional means to ensure our voices are heard and respected. After God, power belongs to the people,” the constituents declared.