Kogi’s Governor Ododo Implicated in Bid to Recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
In the latest political storm swirling around Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, her legal team has raised serious concerns about the authenticity of the recall process initiated against her. Victor Giwa, one of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal representatives, has accused the Kogi State Government of orchestrating the recall campaign as a retaliatory move. The recall petition, which has been submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by a group of constituents from Kogi Central, has raised questions about its legitimacy and whether it is being driven by political motives tied to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s opposition to Kogi Governor Usman Ododo and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
On Tuesday, March 25, 2025, Giwa appeared on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, where he leveled serious accusations against the Kogi State Government, claiming that Charity Omole, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ododo on Women and Youths, was leading the charge in the petition for Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recall. According to Giwa, Omole’s role in the recall process suggests a deliberate, politically motivated campaign spearheaded by the state government, rather than a genuine call from the people of Kogi Central.
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The allegations against Akpoti-Uduaghan have created a storm of controversy in Nigerian politics. The senator, who is a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been embroiled in a public feud with Senate President Akpabio over alleged misconduct, including claims of sexual harassment and abuse of office. Following these serious allegations, Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the Senate in March 2025. However, Giwa believes that the recall effort is a direct response to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s opposition to the ruling party’s political machinery, led by Governor Ododo.
The recall of a sitting senator in Nigeria is a complex and often contentious process. The Nigerian Constitution provides that a senator can be recalled if at least one-third of the voters in the senator’s constituency sign a petition calling for their removal. This petition is then submitted to INEC for verification. After verification, the commission organizes a referendum in which voters in the affected constituency decide whether the senator should be removed from office. It is a process that typically involves significant legal and logistical challenges and rarely succeeds unless there is widespread dissatisfaction with the senator’s performance.
For Akpoti-Uduaghan, the timing of the recall petition has raised doubts about its legitimacy. On March 24, 2025, a group of constituents from Kogi Central, led by Omole, submitted the petition to INEC, citing dissatisfaction with Akpoti-Uduaghan’s performance as the primary reason for the recall. However, Giwa and other supporters of Akpoti-Uduaghan argue that the petition is not rooted in genuine concerns from the people of Kogi Central but rather in retaliation for Akpoti-Uduaghan’s vocal criticism of powerful figures in the Senate and the Kogi State Government.
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Giwa has been vocal in his criticisms of the recall process, calling it politically motivated and accusing the Kogi State Government of being behind the entire campaign. “The truth of the matter is that there is no way the recall process can go through except it is done fraudulently,” Giwa asserted during his appearance on Sunrise Daily. According to Giwa, the petition does not present valid grounds for recalling Akpoti-Uduaghan and is merely an attempt to remove her from office because of her political position and her vocal criticism of the current administration.
One of the central figures in the recall process is Charity Omole, who serves as the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Usman Ododo on Women and Youths. Omole is the individual who led the group of constituents from Kogi Central to submit the petition to INEC. Giwa’s accusations against her are significant, as Omole’s position within the Kogi State Government suggests that the recall process could be orchestrated at the highest levels of the state’s administration.
In his interview, Giwa made it clear that Omole’s involvement in the recall petition raises questions about its authenticity. “In this case, the lady that led that protest is the senior special assistant to the governor of Kogi State on women and youths. You will see that this is a government-sponsored recall,” Giwa said. He went on to assert that the recall petition was not being driven by the people of Kogi Central, but rather by the Kogi State Government, which he claims is using Omole as a tool to carry out its political agenda against Akpoti-Uduaghan.
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Giwa’s accusation highlights the growing political rift between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Governor Ododo, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Akpoti-Uduaghan, as a member of the opposition PDP, has frequently clashed with the ruling APC in Kogi State. She has also been critical of Ododo’s leadership, accusing him of mismanaging the state’s resources and failing to deliver on promises made to the people of Kogi. Given this history of political rivalry, Giwa’s claim that the Kogi State Government is behind the recall petition seems plausible to some observers.
Omole’s role in the petition is also problematic because of her close ties to the governor. As the Senior Special Assistant on Women and Youths, Omole holds a significant position in the Kogi State Government and has a direct link to Ododo’s administration. Her involvement in the recall process raises concerns that the petition is not a grassroots movement, as it purports to be, but rather a politically motivated attempt by the state government to remove an opposition senator from office.
The most pressing question raised by Giwa’s accusations is whether the recall effort is truly an act of political retaliation against Akpoti-Uduaghan for her outspoken criticism of Governor Ododo and Senate President Akpabio. Akpoti-Uduaghan has been a vocal critic of the political establishment in Kogi State, and her public feud with Akpabio has made her a target for retaliation.
The senator’s suspension from the Senate in March 2025 was already a significant blow to her political career, and the recall petition now threatens to end her tenure altogether. Giwa has suggested that the recall petition is a direct response to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s accusations of sexual harassment against Akpabio, as well as her continued criticism of the ruling APC in Kogi State. In this light, the recall effort could be seen as an attempt to silence Akpoti-Uduaghan and remove her from the Senate, effectively punishing her for speaking out against the powerful political figures who dominate Kogi State and the federal government.
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“The recall is not based on any genuine concerns about Akpoti-Uduaghan’s performance,” Giwa argued. “It is a retaliatory move, and the process itself is fundamentally flawed.” He also noted that the recall process, which involves multiple stages and requires significant time and resources, would be highly difficult to carry out successfully without outside influence or manipulation. “For this recall to be successful, it would have to be done fraudulently,” Giwa emphasized.
Giwa’s statement underscores the difficulties that Akpoti-Uduaghan faces as she navigates the political minefield created by her outspoken criticism of the Kogi State Government and powerful figures like Akpabio. The recall petition, coming at a time when the senator is already suspended from the Senate, further complicates her political situation and raises questions about the true motivations behind the campaign.
While the political motivations behind the recall petition are clear, the legal and constitutional implications are more complicated. The Nigerian Constitution sets out the legal framework for recalling a sitting senator, requiring that a petition signed by at least one-third of the registered voters in a senator’s constituency be submitted to INEC. Once submitted, the petition must be verified, and if it meets the necessary requirements, a referendum is held in which voters decide whether the senator should be removed from office.
The process is designed to be rigorous and time-consuming, ensuring that any recall effort reflects the will of the people rather than the interests of political elites. However, Giwa’s accusations suggest that the recall process in Akpoti-Uduaghan’s case is being manipulated by the Kogi State Government, undermining the integrity of the system.
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Giwa has argued that the involvement of Omole, as a key figure in the state government, violates the constitutional requirement that the recall process must be initiated by the constituents themselves. By implying that the Kogi State Government is behind the petition, Giwa is challenging the legitimacy of the recall effort and calling into question the fairness of the process.
If the recall process proceeds, it will likely become a high-profile legal battle, with Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team challenging the validity of the petition and accusing the state government of using the process for political gain. The case could have significant implications for the future of Nigerian democracy and the integrity of the electoral system.
As of press time, the Kogi State Government has not publicly responded to Giwa’s accusations. Governor Ododo has remained silent on the issue, and Omole has not issued any statements defending her role in the recall process. This silence only adds to the growing suspicion that the state government is behind the petition and is using its influence to remove an opposition senator from office.
The lack of a public response from the Kogi State Government has further fueled the controversy surrounding the recall petition. Critics argue that the government’s silence is an attempt to avoid accountability and deflect attention from the political motives behind the recall process.
The recall petition against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has quickly become a politically charged issue, with accusations of government manipulation and retaliation against the opposition. Victor Giwa’s claims that the Kogi State Government, under the leadership of Governor Ododo, is behind the recall effort have raised serious concerns about the fairness and legitimacy of the process.
As the recall process moves forward, it will undoubtedly be a focal point of political debate and legal challenges. The involvement of Charity Omole and her close ties to the Kogi State Government further suggest that the petition is politically motivated, and many observers believe that it is an attempt to silence a vocal critic of the ruling APC.
For Akpoti-Uduaghan, the recall effort is yet another challenge in her ongoing battle for political survival. With her suspension from the Senate and the growing pressure from the Kogi State Government, the senator will need to rally support from her constituents and legal team to fight back against what many view as an unjust and politically motivated campaign.
In the coming weeks, the legal and political fallout from the recall petition will likely dominate the political discourse in Kogi State and Nigeria as a whole, raising important questions about the fairness of the recall process and the use of political power to silence dissenting voices.
Source: The Trent
