Melaye’s Recall: INEC Releases Fresh Schedule
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released a fresh timetable for the planned recall of Dino Melaye, the representing Kogi West senatorial district.
A statement by INEC’s Secretary, Augusta C. Ogakwu on Monday said the recall process will now flag-off on Tuesday, October 3, 2017, with the verification notice.
The statement said that October 5, 2017 has been chosen as the last day for submissions by observers with publication of the list of accredited observers slated for October 9, 2017.
Accordingly, INEC said the conduct of verification is slated for October 14 in all polling units within the senatorial district.
By the existing Electoral Act, one-half of the registered voters are required in a constituency to effect the recall of a lawmaker from either the National or State Assemblies.
About 188,588 from the 360,098 registered voters in Kogi west, a figure that is little more than one-half the number required, are said to have signed the petition to recall Senator Melaye from the National Assembly.
The initial timetable on the recall process was put on hold when Senator Melaye, through his counsel, Mike Ozekhome approached the court to challenge his constituents’ moves to eject him from the upper legislative chamber.
In the process, the lawmaker got an Abuja High Court to issue an order of injunction restraining INEC from commencing the process.
But in a dramatic turn of events, a Federal High Court in Abuja, last week, gave INEC the leave to continue the recall process without any legal hindrance.
