• As INEC Denies Involvement in Recall Process

• Safiu Kehinde

Members of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s constituency have revealed how they were mobilized to come out for empowerment as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) denied involvement in the recall process of the suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District.

In a latest development on Natasha’s ongoing agitation against the Senate over her suspension, some stakeholders at the embattled lawmaker’s constituency had reportedly initiated her recall process on Wednesday.

The recall process started at Okehi Local Government Area and as captured in a viral video, large numbers of electorates were seen on queue awaiting their turn.

It would, however, be gathered that the constituents were reportedly tricked into appending their signature after a town crier went around Okehi on Tuesday, inviting people for empowerment.

On getting there, they were asked to submit their voter card number in exchange for money.

Videos of interview with some of the constituents would further reveal how they were deceived to come for an empowerment programme.

An unidentified man recounted how they were told to come with the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) for the empowerment.

“This early morning, we were informed that we should come for an empowerment. When we got to the field, we were asked to bring our voters card and the VIN number there.

“We now asked why because we were told to come for empowerment. So they gave us a form to fill. You will fill with your VIN and pen your signature.

“Most of us refused to do that because we don’t know that an empowerment can be done in this way. So we left the field.

“We don’t know it is an issue of recall so everybody left.” He said.

Describing the recall process as a mess, Joseph Titilayo

“I call it a mess because nobody was aware of it at all. They took people to the correlation centre deceiving them of doing empowerment and when majority of them got to know that what they wanted to do is not a normal thing, all of them left.

“I see it as a mess and I know that they cannot do anything about it. They were just doing what people are not in support of. I myself I’m not in support of it. Even majority of people in Okehi local government are not in support of it.” She said.

Speaking on Natasha’s contribution to the constituency, Titilayo lauded the lawmaker’s effort, stressing that she has done what her predecessors were unable to do.

“That woman has done a lot of things. She has done what other people have not done before. Other Senators, we have not even benefitted as much from them as we have now in the Senate.” She said.

Another female electorate at the venue of the recall process confirmed they were invited for an empowerment and we’re not informed about any recall process.

“We just here for an empowerment and we were given an instruction to come with our voters card. There is nothing like recall. We don’t have anything against our Senator so why the recall?” She asked.

A separate video would later show a large number of women storming out of the correlation centre after realizing they were not invited for an empowerment but for Natasha’s recall.

When contacted by the Punch, Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Gabriel Longpet, claimed he was unaware of any recall process.

He disclosed that no one has contacted him about initiating a recall process in the state.

“I am not aware of any recall process, apart from the unconfirmed reports flying about on social media.

“No one has contacted me about any recall in any part of the state,” Longpet said.