The Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, has issued an interim order stopping the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from receiving or acting on a petition that allegedly contains fake signatures aimed at recalling Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The court order, granted on Thursday, March 20, 2025, also prevents INEC from organizing a referendum based on the petition until further notice. The decision followed an ex parte motion filed by Anebe Jacob Ogirima and four other registered voters from Kogi Central Senatorial District. They claimed the petition was fraudulent and asked the court to halt any actions related to it.
The application was presented by Smart Nwachimere, Esq., of West-Idahosa, SAN & Co., who argued that allowing INEC to proceed with the petition could lead to an unjust recall process.
In his ruling, Justice Isa H. Dashen, who presided over the case (Suit No. FHC/LKJ/CS/13/2025), issued an injunction barring INEC, its staff, and agents from acknowledging or acting on the petition. He stated:
“Upon this Motion Ex-parte dated March 19, 2025, and filed on March 20, 2025, in the Registry of this Honourable Court, praying the Court for the following reliefs:
An order of interim injunction restraining the Defendant (INEC), their staff, agents, privies, or assigns from receiving, accepting, or acting in any way whatsoever on any purported petition submitted by any person or persons containing fictitious signatures and names of purported members of Kogi Central Senatorial District.
The order also restrains INEC from conducting any referendum upon such a petition for the purpose of initiating a recall process of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.”
The judge set May 6, 2025, as the return date for a report on the service of the order and further proceedings.
