The recall petition against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan failed because the petitioners could not get 50 per cent of registered voters in three out of the five local government areas that make up her senatorial district to endorse their bid.

The local government areas are Adavi, Ajaokuta and Okehi.

The petitioners, however, succeeded in other local government areas, which are Okene, and Ogori/Magongo.

The five local government areas make up Kogi Central Senatorial District, also the district of Governor Ododo and his predecessor Yahaya Bello.

There are 474, 554 voters in the district but INEC could only verify 208,132 voters by signatures/ thumbprints.

The breakdown of the verification, obtained last night, was as follows:

? ADAVI: (114,663 registered voters) 32,671 verified – 28.49%

? AJAOKUTA: (96,504 registered voters) 45,808 verified – 47.47%

? OGORI/ MAGONGO: (17,688 registered voters) 9,369 verified – 52.97%

? ?????: (94,456 registered voters) 37,064 verified – 39.24%

? OKENE: (151,243 registered voters) 83,220 verified – 55.02%

TOTAL: (474,554 registered voters) 208,132 verified – 43.86%

A source privy to the intrigues behind the failed recall process said: “INEC was under pressure and blackmail by those for and those against.

“Some forces, including a few Senators and political bigwigs, wanted the verification signatures/ thumbprints done within 48 hours.

“INEC stood its ground and opted to apply the guidelines and regulations strictly. Although it has a 90-day window to complete the recall process, INEC worked within a compressed timeliness or tight schedule to authenticate the signatures/ thumbprints.

“There was evidence of rushed application, failure to indicate the addresses or phone numbers of petitioners, but the electoral umpire insisted on due process.

“Despite the scheming, INEC subjected every part of the recall move to a transparent process.

“The petitioners were too much in hurry, they left many things undone.

“They also did not reach out to many constituents due to limited time.

“The truth is that nothing warranted the urgency attached to the petition because all actors have been in and out the court on the matter.”

Asked about the reaction of some of the lawmakers, the source added: “When they were lamenting, we said you made the law which we implemented. It was impossible for INEC to change the law.”

Section 69 of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) says: “A member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives may be recalled as such a member if –(a) there is presented to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission a petition in that behalf signed by more than one-half of the persons registered to vote in that member’s constituency alleging their loss of confidence in that member; and

(b) the petition is thereafter, in a referendum conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission within ninety(90) days of the date of receipt of the petition, approved by a simple majority of the votes of the persons registered to vote in that member’s constituency.

Another source said the outcome of the verification showed that Natasha has to work harder because “she was not too strong in three out of five local governments in the district.

“She won the battle on technical ground, not by popularity.

“For any election, it is a matter of simple majority of the lawful votes.

“From the field report, she needs more homework.” (The Nation)