The Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, has granted an interim injunction restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its agents from receiving, accepting, or acting on any petition containing signatures of purported members of the Kogi Central Senatorial District.
The court order also prevented INEC from conducting any referendum based on such a petition to initiate the recall process of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central).
The restraining order was sequel to an ex parte application for an interim injunction, supported by an affidavit of extreme urgency and other court processes sworn to by Anebe Jacob Ogirima on behalf of himself and four other plaintiffs, all of whom are registered voters and constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District.
The application in Suit No. FHC/LKJ/CS/13/2025 was moved by Bar Smart Nwachimere of West-Idahosa, SAN & Co and was granted on Thursday, March 20, 2025.
In his ruling, Justice Isa H. Dashen said , “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 certain reliefs including: 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 court order also restrained 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 subsequently ordered as follows: That an interim injunction is granted. That the return date shall be May 6, 2025, for a report of service and further mention.
