From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday disclosed that it had slated April 28 to commence processes for the recall of Senator Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi West) in line with the pronouncement of the Appeal Court.
The Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. James Apam gave the hint during a stakeholders meeting comprising representatives of political parties and operatives in electoral activities in Lokoja.
Apam described INEC as a law abiding organisation being a creation of the law and would rather do what the law said by adhering strictly to the pronouncement of the Court of Appeal which ordered the commission to start the recall process.
He said that process would start with verification of signatures of all the electorate that signed the petition for the recall adding that at least 51 per cent of the signatures must fully verified.
A referendum would be conducted as from May 28 but it would depend on the success of the verification exercise being able to verify at least 51 per cent of the signatures.
According to him “On this day,the commission will endeavour to invite all those who have signed the recall register to come forward and identify their signature”.he said.
According to him ,if this process is successful, the commission will proceed to the next stage where a referendum of all registered voters would be conducted.
” Here, voters will be asked to vote either yes or no to the question of whether they want Senator Dino Melaye recalled ”
He said that “if the answer was able to meet the constitutional requirements of 51 percent yes,the process moves to the next stage but if it fails,the process stops”.Apam explained.
Last week, the Appeal Court threw out Senator Dino Melayes suit challenging the move to recall him.
The embattled Senator has vowed to proceed to the Supreme court in a bid to stop INEC from proceeding with the process.
