IT WILL TAKE A MIRACLE TO RECALL SENATOR NATASHA AKPOTI - FACTS NOT SENTIMENTS

The guidelines for recalling a Senator empowers INEC to conduct the recall after receiving a petition signed by more than 50% of the registered voters in the Senatorial District.

Registered Voters from Kogi Central
474,554

1. Ajaokuta 96,504
2. Adavi 114,663
3. Ogori 17,688
4.Okene 151,243
5. Okehi 94,456

From the above, more than 237,000 voters need to sign the petition that will be submitted to INEC. That is the first huddle which is almost an impossibility. This is because, just bout 110,00 constituents voted in the election that made Natasha Akpoti a Senator.

Natasha Akpoti - 54,074
Abubakar Ohere - 51,291
Other candidates - 4000 votes
The prevailing voters apathy in Nigeria makes it a herculean task to get the required signatures.

Step 2:

If the constituents are able to get the required signatures which must be arranged according to polling units, wards and local governments, INEC will now be required to verify the signatures were actually signed by the voters.

Already, the embattled Senator has secured a call ruling that mandates INEC not to act on any fake signatures. By this, INEC is required to discontinue the process if they find any fake or forged signatures.

Step 3:

If by miracle the constituents are able to pass the first two hurdles, they move to referendum which is like conducting another election but this time, just a yes or no. Remember that the embattled Senator won the election by popular votes even as an opposition candidate.

Final huddle. The entire process must be completed within 90 days from the receipt of the petition. I don't see INEC completing verification and referendum for 237,000 voters when 110,000 was a big deal.

For the petition to be valid, more than 237,000 people must identify as registered voters within the Senatorial District and sign the petition form.

To be continued

© Adanu Moses