Natasha alerts INEC of fresh fake signatures to prosecute her recall
By Ishaya Ibrahim
The forces seeking the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan have started procuring fake signatures to finish what they started, according to a post by the suspended senator on her X handle, showing samples of the documents.
She posted on Saturday, “Dear @inecnigeria , I’m aware these amongst other forged petitions In furtherance of “their” recall will be submitted to your good office next week. Well, Nigerians will hold you to your constituted standards and authority.”
On April 7, TheNiche exclusively reported how a fresh plot to relaunch the recall process of Natasha was being hatched.
This fresh plot is said to be spearheaded by the Senate President Godswill Akpabio, his allies in the Senate and some political stalwarts from Kogi State who feel politically challenged by the failure of the initial plot.
TheNiche exclusively gathered from a highly authoritative source in the Senate that the Senate President is pressing ahead with the effort to recall her. “This is a more serious effort than the last one and this time, nothing will be left to chance,” our source, who pleaded anonymity, said.
“Since INEC said there is a shortfall of 29,146 signatories, the goal this time is to get 100,000 signatures so that there will be not excuse.”
TheNiche gathered that for this mission, about 10 master signature forgers from one of the Southwest states had reportedly been flown to Abuja and lodged in a hotel in Garki.
“They will work hand in gloves with the same boys from the Kogi Central constituency who were filmed doing the same thing in the aborted effort of last week.”
Meanwhile the diehard supporters of the Senate President who are said to be disappointed with the way INEC handled the recall process, leading to its abortion last week, are mounting pressure on the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmoud Yakubu, even with some subtle threats of consequences should the second attempt flounder.
To ensure that nothing goes wrong, sources privy to the new scheme aver that a powerful minister in Tinubu’s government has been co-opted into the plot even as more funds have been released to those who have been on the project, including the former governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello, a well-known arch political rival of Senator Natasha.
“They cannot wait for the next election cycle. They see that as a defeat by a woman who they consider a political upstart and an outsider in the country’s power loop,” said a security source who is also privy to the plans.
“Don’t forget, these are political actors who don’t take prisoners. The interesting thing is that while Akpabio is fighting the political battle of his life and throwing in everything, he is at the same time sending confusing signals that could be misread as peace overtures. The idea is to lure the other side to some sort of complacency and then deliver the sucker punch.”
