The federal high court in Lokoja has granted an interim injunction preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or acting on petitions to recall Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Kogi central senator.

The court granted the order on Thursday following an ex-parte application for an interim injunction, supported by an “affidavit of extreme urgency”.

On Wednesday, videos circulating on social media appeared to show constituents signing documents as part of the recall process. A source in Kogi had confirmed that efforts to recall the senator were underway.

Court documents seen by TheCable showed that the application was filed by Anebe Jacob Ogirima and four other registered voters from Kogi central. They were represented by Smart Nwachimere of West-Idahosa, SAN & Co.

The court order prohibits INEC and its representatives from accepting or acting on petitions linked to the recall, which the applicants claim contain fictitious signatures.

The order also bars the electoral commission from conducting a referendum on the matter until the substantive case is resolved.

“That an interim injunction is granted restraining the defendant, staff, agents, privies or assigns from receiving, accepting or acting in any way whatsoever on any purported petitions submitted to the defendant by any person or persons whatsoever, containing fictitious signatures and names of purported members of the said district and conducting any referendum to initiate a recall process of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as senator pending the determination of the motion,” the order reads.

The order of the court and the motion on notice are to be served on the defendant (INEC).

Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the senate on March 6 for “gross misconduct” following a seating arrangement dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio. She had earlier accused Akpabio of sexual harassment.

The Deputy spokesman for the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese (APC-Benue) says the overall interest of the National Assembly is the restoration of tranquility and order in Rivers.

Agbese said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, after the National Assembly ratified the emergency rule declared on Rivers by President Bola Tinubu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Tinubu suspended Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Gov. Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers House of Assembly for six months and appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas as sole administrator.

NAN also recalls that the emergency rule was declared following the lingering political face-off between Fubara and the state assembly, and subsequent threats of violence and protests by some stakeholders in the state.

According to the deputy spokesman, peace and order in the entire country is what is needed to allow good governance to thrive.

Agbese said the national assembly is a “micro-Nigeria” and it will always do its best to ensure peace in the land.

“We cannot deny that the challenges in Rivers need to be fixed; in his wisdom, Mr President intervened and sought the approval of the national assembly to ratify his declaration,” he said.

The deputy spokesman said the house, however, made some amendments to the proclamation, expressing hope that the move would restore peace between both warring parties.

The rep said t the house recommended a committee of eminent Nigerians to mediate between both parties with the view to restoring tranquility.

He said the house also recommended that the emergency rule should be lifted as soon as peace is restored before the expiration of six months.

Agbese urged Nigerians to support the national assembly as well as President Tinubu in finding a lasting solution to the crisis in Rivers. (NAN)