The Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) says only a legitimate court order can stop the
process for the recall of Dino Melaye, lawmaker
representing Kogi west senatorial district.
Rotimi Oyekanmi, chief press secretary to the
chairman of the commission, said this on Tuesday
during an interview with the NAN.
He said that filing a lawsuit was not enough to stop
the process.
On Monday, the commission released the schedule of
activities for the recall of Melaye. Various suits have
been instituted in courts to stop the process.
Melaye and a group known as Concerned Kogi
Registered Voters filed separate cases at a federal high
court in Abuja.
But Oyekanmi said the actions of the commission were
being guided by the provisions of the constitution and
the electoral act.
“The constituents came with sacks of documents
which they said were ‘the signatures’ of more than half
of the voting population of Kogi west senatorial
district, which Melaye represents,” the statement read.
“They also presented a register of the said signatories
and a letter, asking INEC to begin the process of
recalling the senator representing that particular
district.
“Subsequently, the commission, in the exercise of the
powers conferred on it by sections 116 of the electoral
act 2010 (as amended), on Monday issued a timetable
and schedule of activities for the recall of the senator.
“The first stage is a verification exercise slated for July
10, 2017.
“To that extent, filing a lawsuit is not enough to stop
INEC from carrying out its legitimate duty.
“Only a legitimate court order or an injunction can be
considered by the commission.”
Reacting to claims by Melaye that some of the
signatures submitted to INEC were forged and that
names of dead registered voters were also included,
Oyekanmi said that the process of verification would
clear all that.
On method INEC would adopt in verifying thumbprints
of registered illiterate voters who are part of the
signatories for the recall, he said that it would be
handled.
“The commission will adopt its normal way of
conducting the verification exercise, which will be
applicable to both the literate and not-so-literate,” he
said.
He added that the commission would apply its
standards in a situation where people believed to have
signed the recall letter, failed to show up for signature
verification.
“If the verification fails to meet the established
standards, the commission will not proceed to the next
stage. The recall process automatically terminates
there,” he said.
TheCable
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