The process to recall Dino Melaye, a senator
representing Kogi west, is in a way, beginning to gain
steam.

What began as a threat by Yahaya Bello, governor of
the state, is now unfurling in a dramatic way.

Melaye and Bello have been at daggers drawn over
issues of political interest. But the rift ossified when
Melaye called for the resignation of the governor for
allegedly doing “double voter registration”.

In the “quid pro quo” battle, Melaye linked Bello to
alleged attempts on his life, while the governor
described him as unfit to be a lawmaker, and
eventually initiating the process to have him sacked
from the senate.

However, the figure of signatories to the petition for
recall and that of actual voters in the 2015 senatorial
election in the district are raising questions.

Here is why.

188, 588 “SIGNED” PETITION FOR RECALL BUT ONLY
79, 268 VOTED IN ELECTION

On Monday, Pius Kolawole, special adviser to the
governor, announced that 188,588 voters,
representing 52.3 percent of the total number of
registered voters in Kogi west senatorial district,
approved the recall of Melaye from the senate.

He said the collation of signatures of voters was
carried out successfully on June 17.

According to the electoral act, one-half of the number
of registered voters in a constituency is required for the
recall of a lawmaker.

There are 360,098 registered voters in Kogi west and
the number — 188,588 – represents a little more than
one-half required for a lawmaker’s recall.

Theoretically, this figure is achievable.

However, a look at the figure of voters in the 2015
senatorial election in the district raises questions.

With the massive turnout in the election, Melaye polled
only 41,120 votes while his closest opponent, Smart
Adeyemi, who ran on the platform of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) but is now a member of APC,
had 38,148 votes.

Adeyemi challenged the outcome of the exercise at the
election petition tribunal which ordered a recount. The
recount showed that INEC gave Melaye more than
2,000 invalid votes. But it upheld his victory on the
grounds that the number of invalid votes did not
substantially alter the final results.

Now, the sum of votes both candidates had is 79,268,
though other candidates had a few hundreds. But it is
doubtful that more than twice the number of actual
voters in the election (188,000) trooped out for the
“recall balloting”.

INEC TO VERIFY CLAIM

The Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) is expected to eventually answer the questions
raised here. The commission will verify the names on
the register along with the recall signatories.

It will also conduct a referendum to determine if
Melaye’s “constituents” want him out of the senate.

However, INEC has said it is not aware of the process
to recall the lawmaker.

TheCable