A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja has affirmed that the bid to recall embattled Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by members of her constituents is constitutionally valid and aligns with the civic rights of her constituents.
The court therefore urged the constituents to continue with the recall process in an orderly and peaceful manner.
The court gave the ruling on Friday while setting aside its earlier ruling that restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from receiving petition on the recall process initiated by constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Some constituents of Kogi central senatorial district allegedly began collection of signatures of registered voters across the district’s LGAs as process of recalling Akpoti-Uduaghan from the national assembly
However, in what has now turned out to be just a temporary relief for Natasha, the Court presided over by Justice Isa Dashen, had last Thursday stopped INEC from receiving petition of the recall from the Kogi Central Constituents.
The Court gave the order after listening to the application moved by Mr Smart Nwachimere, of West-Idahosa, SAN & Co, counsel for the applicants.
The applicants, Anebe Jacob Ogirma, John Adebosi, Musa Adeiza, Ahmed Usman, and Maleek Yahaya, had through their counsel sued INEC over the alleged ongoing recalling process of Sen Akpoti-Uduaghan, Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District.
The applicants prayed the court to order INEC not to receive any petition by purported members of Kogi Central Senatorial District for the purpose of initiating a re-call process for Akpoti-Uduaghan, pending the determination of the Motion on Notice to the same effect.
The ex-parte application for the interim injunction, was supported by an Affidavit of Extreme urgency together with other court processes sworn to by Anebe Ogirima for himself and four others who are registered voters and constituents of Kogi central senatorial district of Kogi.
Justice Dashen granted the application and ordered that the court order and motion on notice be served on the defendant/despondent (INEC) .
