The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has faulted the petition for the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on the grounds that it does not meet stipulated guidelines.

The commission in a statement signed by Sam Olumekun, the commission’s National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, on Tuesday, said it observed that Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recall petitioners did not provide their contact addresses as required in the guidelines for recall process.

The INEC stated, “The commission’s immediate observation is that the representatives of the petitioners did not provide their contact address, telephone number(s) and e-mail address(es) in the covering letter forwarding the petition through which they can be contacted as provided in Clause 1(f) of our Regulations and Guidelines. The address given is “Okene, Kogi State,” which is not a definite location for contacting the petitioners. Only the telephone number of “the lead petitioner” is provided as against the numbers of all the other representatives of the petitioners.”

The commission noted that all petitions would be treated in strict compliance with the legal framework, promising to announce its next step of action on Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recall when the petitioners complied with the necessary requirements.

“Consequently, if the petitioners fully comply with the requirements of Clause 1(f) of the regulations and guidelines regarding the submission of their petition, the commission will announce the next steps in line with the extant laws, regulations and guidelines. In the absence of a definite contact address, the commission is making efforts to use other means to notify the representatives of the petitioners of the situation,” the INEC stated.

The commission said that it reassured the public that it would be guided by the legal framework for recall, adding that the public should therefore discountenance any speculations and insinuations on social media.

Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended for six months over alleged violation of Senate rules after accusing the Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexually harassing her, has been enmeshed in a recall drama with some of her constituents.

On Monday, some persons from Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s constituency submitted a recall petition having about 250,000 signatures to the INEC.