CSOs unveil situation room to monitor Natasha’s recall process

A coalition of Civil Society Organisations has established a situation room to oversee the ongoing recall process of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District.

On Wednesday, INEC notified Akpoti-Uduaghan that the deficiencies in the petitioners’ contact details—initially rejected a day earlier for lacking addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses—had been rectified.

This development signaled the official commencement of the recall process.

However, in a statement on Saturday by the Convener and Lead Partner of the Civil Monitoring Society Situation Room for the Kogi Central Recall Exercise, Mike Femi,  the coalition reaffirmed its dedication to ensuring the process strictly adheres to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999, as amended) and complies with INEC’s guidelines.

Femi stated that while the right to recall is constitutionally guaranteed, the process must be free from political influence or manipulation.

“As key stakeholders in Nigeria’s democratic process, we are committed to ensuring governance functions within the framework of the law. Our role is to monitor proceedings to guarantee fairness, transparency, and strict adherence to due process,” the coalition stated.

The group urged INEC to maintain neutrality and integrity throughout the exercise, warning that any form of manipulation or political interference could undermine the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

“We are not here to take sides, but we insist that the recall process must remain credible and uninfluenced by political maneuvers. The will of the people must be respected,” the statement read.

The coalition further assured the public that it would release a final report on the recall exercise, ensuring an impartial assessment for all stakeholders, including the affected senator.

“Our commitment remains to uphold constitutionality and fairness throughout this process,” the statement stated.