The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says it will commence the recall process of Dino Melaye, a senator representing Kogi West, on Saturday, April 21, 2018.
This follows a recent ruling by the appeal court which gave INEC the go-ahead to carry out the exercise. Speaking at a stakeholders meeting in Kogi on Wednesday, April 25, 2018, Mohammed Haruna, the INEC federal commissioner, said the verification of signatures of those seeking to recall the senator will commence on that day.
He said the verification exercise would hold in 552 polling units in seven local governments under Kogi west senatorial district.
He also said the card reading machines will be used to authenticate the voter cards of those that signed the recall petition. “Only those who signed the petition are expected to turn up at their polling units for verification,” Haruna said.
Also speaking, James Apam, the INEC resident electoral commissioner for the state, said local observers would be allowed to monitor the exercise.
The REC said that no party agents would be allowed access to any of the polling units, and that the result of the exercise will be announced on April 29, 2018. He added: “We have concluded all arrangements in line with our schedule of activities and are set for the exercise.
“The ad-hoc staff have been trained at the state and local government levels and materials procured and sent to the registration area centres ready for movement to the polling units on the day of verification.”
Melaye is currently in a hospital after sustaining injuries while trying to escape from the police vehicle conveying him to a court in Lokoja, Kogi capital. He has been accused of supplying guns to some murder suspects, an allegation the lawmaker denied.
In a related development, a group is known as Coalition of Abia South Senatorial Movement, CASSM, also said it has commenced the recall process of Eyninaya Abaribe, a senator representing Abia south.
Speaking at a meeting in Aba, Abia state, on Tuesday, Paul Ikonne, a leader of the group, said Abaribe has not performed well since he was elected into office as senator. Ikonne said due process would be followed in seeking the recall of the senator from the upper legislative chamber.
“Senator Abaribe was sent to the senate by us to make good laws and attract projects that will help to improve both lives and infrastructural development of our area but what we are getting is a total and colossal failure from him,” he said.
“In that regard, we have no other option than to commence his recall process as all necessary forms will be filled by everyone needed to do that and as a law abiding citizens we are following due process to do what we are doing.
“This is not a political party or organization through political parties which its members are from the zone are here with us as it is a project that concerns all, we have PDP, APC, APDP among others are with us in this recall process.”
Daniel Nweze, a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, said Abaribe needs to be recalled because he was not sent to the senate “to insult Mr. President”.
On his part, Nwobodo Nwanganga, a member of the Advance People Democratic Party, APDP, said he is supporting the recall of Abaribe because he is “short-changed.”
“I feel ashamed and short-changed which is the reason for my support for his recall,” Nwanganga said.
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