Following the failed attempt to recall Senator Dino Melaye, who represents Kogi West, Concerned Nigerians, an advocacy group for democracy, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to prosecute those responsible for the forgery of signatures on the original recall petition.
In an emailed statement to The Trent on Sunday, April 29, 2018, the group expressed “dismay” at the “charade” of the process to recall the controversial senator.
Below is the statement:
Dino’s Recall: INEC Must Prosecute Those Who Forged Signatures
We observed yesterday with dismay the charade called the recall of senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Dino Melaye.
The recall according to our team of observers who were on ground to witness the process was fraught with irregularities, manipulations and forgery.
We are calling on INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu to prosecute all those who played a role in perpetrating forgery and also conniving with the initiators of Senator Melaye’s recall to smuggle in names of dead persons and those who never appended their signatures to the purported list asking for the recall of Senator Dino Melaye as this portends serious dangers for the 2019 elections.
If Professor Mahmood Yakubu fails to do this, it will therefore mean he lacks the moral value to continue as INEC chairman since all these things happened under his watch.
We equally enjoin the electorates whose names were fraudulently included in the recall list to approach the Court for redress as our organisation, Concerned Nigerians is willing to provide legal services and other supports for the affected persons to get justice.
Most of the electorates we spoke with told us in confidence that they neither wrote nor signed the purported list calling for the recall of Senator Dino Melaye.
We are calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission to as a matter of urgency investigate and prosecute those responsible for the names that were smuggled into the list.
INEC and it’s officials must ensure such people stop making mockery of our democratic system and allow the people to freely make their democratic choice as regards who govern or represent them at all times.
SIGNED:
Deji Adeyanju
Convener
Theophilus Abu Agada
National Publicity Secretary
FOR: Concerned Nigerians
A Pro-Democracy Group in Nigeria dedicated to the rule of law, good governance and anti-corruption.
