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Recall: Kogi Central Constituents thank INEC for recognising 208,132 signatures
…….Says ‘it’s proof that Kogi Central has abandoned Natasha, Vow to proceed with recall, finetune process.
Constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District have thanked the Independent National Electoral Commission for validating 208,132 (43.86 per cent) signatures in the petition submitted for the recall of the suspended lawmaker representing the District in the National Assembly, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The constituents, who are registered voters of Kogi Central, noted that, though they had mobilised more than the 50 per cent plus one threshold of registered voters and submitted their petition with full documentation, the validation of 43.86 per cent by the Commission still confirmed that Kogi Central constituents had abandoned the embattled Senator.”
Apparently, INEC canceled not less than 35,000 signatures at the administrative stage,” the constituents said, while reacting to a statement on the recall process issued by the electoral umpire.
In a statement on Thursday, signed by Salihu Habib, on behalf of the petitioners, the constituents insisted that there was no going back on their resolve to bring the Kogi Senator back home.
“We will liaise with INEC within the full ambits of the Constitution and regulations to demand for transparency in the handling of our petition.
We have utmost confidence in the Commission not to subject the recall process to ambiguity or administrative opacity,” the constituents said.
They expressed their gratitude to INEC for proving naysayers, who queried the authenticity of their figures, wrong.
“We thank INEC for making it clear that the bulk of the people of Kogi Central are behind us and that we did not import a crowd like a desperate, embattled lawmaker,” they said.
The petitioners insisted that the recall of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan “for misconduct and divisiveness” was non-negotiable.
They said, “We are firm in our resolve to restore dignified and collaborative representation to Kogi Central Senatorial District.
We will no longer indulge someone who will do and say anything just to remain politically relevant.
“The whole of Nigeria watched her deceptive rally last Tuesday where she openly made comments capable of setting, not just Kogi State, but Nigeria ablaze.
“How can any patriotic Nigerian accuse other parts of the country of sabotaging Kogi State/the North because LNG plants are sited here?
How can a responsible Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria try to pitch the North against the South?”
“We will pursue all lawful and constitutional means to ensure our voices are heard and respected. After God, power belongs to the people,” the constituents declared.
The Nigerian naira recorded its highest depreciation against the dollar this week at the official foreign exchange market amid United States of America President, Donald Trump’s tariff announcement.
The Central Bank of Nigeria’s exchange data showed that it dropped to N1,552.53 per dollar on Thursday from N1,531.25 traded on Wednesday.
This means that the naira slumped by N21.28 against the dollar on Thursday compared to N1,531.25 exchanged the previous day.
This is the highest depreciation against the dollar on a single day since March 22, when the currency dropped by N18.96 weekly at the official market.
Similarly, at the black market, the naira weakened by N5 on Thursday to N1,560 per dollar from N1,555 traded on Wednesday.
The development comes despite CBN’s announcement that the country’s Net Foreign Exchange Reserve (NFER) as of the end of 2024 stood at $23.11 billion, the highest level in over three years.
The drop in the naira at both official and parallel foreign exchange markets follows Trump’s administration’s tariff announcement on Wednesday, which sparked outrage across the world.
Economic experts said Trump’s 10 percent baseline tariffs would affect US-Nigeria trade worth $10 billion.
The chief executive officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf on Thursday in a statement said Trump’s tariff would affect Nigeria’s economy because it has brought an end to the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
Justice Binta Fatima Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has barred parties in the suit filed by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and three others from granting press interviews on issues relating to the case.
The judge issued the order on Friday following a complaint by the lawyer to Akpabio, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), that the plaintiff was moving from one television house to another, granting press interviews on issues relating to her case, which is currently pending before the court.
In a brief ruling, Justice Nyako said there shall be no press interviews by all parties and their lawyers regarding the subject matter of the case.
Justice Nyako also barred parties and their lawyers from engaging in streaming the proceedings of the case on social media.
Details shortly.
News
BREAKING: Minister of works opens rehabilitated Independence bridge, Lagos, after major palliative works
…. Says, Lagosians are to kindly use the bride from today, 4th April 2025.
The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, has re-opened the Independence Bridge (Ahmadu Bello Way-Marina bound) to vehicular traffic.
The government had announced the closure of the bridge starting from April 1 for essential maintenance and rehabilitation works.
It was to remain closed until May.
However, Umahi urged Lagosians to kindly use the bride from today, 4th April 2025.
He said that palliative works were underway to ensure that the bridge would be motorable.
JUST IN: Naira records highest depreciation against dollar amid Trump’s tariff war
JUST IN: Court bars parties from granting interviews in Natasha’s case against Akpabio, others
BREAKING: Minister of works opens rehabilitated Independence bridge, Lagos, after major palliative works
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