CONCERNS are mounting over the ongoing recall process against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in Kogi Central Senatorial District, with a civil society organisation raising alarms about alleged forgery and manipulation of voters’ signatures.
The Grassroots Centre for Rights & Civic Orientation has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to exercise caution, warning that the process may be tainted by fraudulent activities.
The organisation, through its Executive Director, Armsfree Ajanaku, emphasised the need for INEC to ensure strict compliance with due process, transparency, and accountability. “INEC must be vigilant in order not to fall for the antics of desperate and corrupt political forces that will stop at nothing to subvert the express democratic wishes and aspirations of the electorate,” Ajanaku stated.
The Grassroots Centre claimed it had observed and documented evidence suggesting that some constituents were misled into signing the recall petition. According to the group, several online videos purportedly show unsuspecting citizens being invited under the pretext of receiving empowerment and palliatives, only to discover that their biometric details and signatures were being collected for the recall process.
“A signature collection process already marred by blatant signature buying and all manner of unethical inducement should be a source of concern to INEC,” the organisation asserted. It likened the alleged practice to vote-buying, which is considered an electoral crime under Nigerian law.
Additionally, the group alleged that some political actors and their agents had been seen compiling fake signatures from the comfort of their homes, further raising questions about the integrity of the recall effort. “These barefaced falsifications and underhand tactics, which amount to forgeries, impersonation, and an attempt to subvert the real intention of constituents, cannot be waved off by INEC,” Ajanaku stressed.
Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, under Section 69, outlines the legal framework for recalling a senator. According to the law, a recall petition must be signed by more than half of the registered voters in the affected constituency before it can be submitted to INEC for verification. The Electoral Act also specifies that the petition must include the names, Voter Identification Numbers (VINs), and signatures of the petitioners, arranged according to polling units.
Given these legal stipulations, the credibility of the recall process hinges on the authenticity of the signatures collected. “At the heart of the recall process is the issue of the authenticity of registered voters who sign such a recall petition,” the Grassroots Centre noted.
To maintain public trust, the organisation urged INEC to take extra measures to prevent the use of forged signatures. “The process of verification should be handled transparently, and the methods for determining the credibility or otherwise of the signatures should be made known to all stakeholders, including the media, civil society organisations, political parties, and security agencies,” Ajanaku added.
The civil society group further called for the investigation and prosecution of individuals found to be involved in forging signatures.
“In cases where forged or falsified signatures are discovered to have been attached to the petition, the perpetrators should be investigated, prosecuted, and publicly shamed,” the statement read.
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Forgery and impersonation in electoral processes are serious offences under Nigerian law. If proven, those involved could face legal consequences, including fines and imprisonment. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) categorises these offences under electoral malpractices, with penalties outlined in its official document on Electoral Offences and Penalties.
Additionally, under Section 467 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act, forgery is a punishable offence with significant legal ramifications.
Similarly, Section 484 of the Criminal Code Act criminalises impersonation, further reinforcing the legal consequences of falsifying voters’ identities in any electoral process.
The Explainer reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised concerns over procedural lapses in the petition seeking the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District. The Commission, in a statement released on Tuesday, 25 March 2025, confirmed that the petition was received but lacked key details required for processing.
The recall petition, reportedly signed by over half of the 474,554 registered voters in Kogi Central, was submitted to INEC by representatives of the petitioners. However, the Commission noted that the covering letter lacked a specific contact address, multiple telephone numbers, and email addresses, making communication with the petitioners difficult.
Analysts argue that beyond the legal implications, a flawed recall process could set a dangerous precedent, undermining democratic accountability in Nigeria. Electoral stakeholders warn that any recall exercise tainted by fraud could erode public trust in the system and weaken the credibility of democratic institutions.
