Melaye’s recall: Only legitimate court order can stop process – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday
said only a legitimate court order could stop process for the
recall of Sen. Dino Melaye as demanded by his Kogi West
constituents.

Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of the
commission, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said that filing a lawsuit was not enough to stop the recall
process.

INEC had on Monday released the schedule of activities for the
recall of Melaye, the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial
District in the Senate, with Aug. 19 fixed for verification of
signatures of petitioners demanding his recall.

But, various suits have been instituted in courts to stop to
stop the process.

The cases include those by Melaye and Concerned Kogi Registered
Voters, filed separately at a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking
an order to halt INEC from conducting the verification of
signatures and the recall.

Oyekanmi said that 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.

“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 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,’’ he said.

On 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 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 stated.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday
said only a legitimate court order could stop process for the
recall of Sen. Dino Melaye as demanded by his Kogi West
constituents.

Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of the
commission, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said that filing a lawsuit was not enough to stop the recall
process.

INEC had on Monday released the schedule of activities for the
recall of Melaye, the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial
District in the Senate, with Aug. 19 fixed for verification of
signatures of petitioners demanding his recall.

But, various suits have been instituted in courts to stop to
stop the process.

The cases include those by Melaye and Concerned Kogi Registered
Voters, filed separately at a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking
an order to halt INEC from conducting the verification of
signatures and the recall.

Oyekanmi said that 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.

“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 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,’’ he said.

On 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 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 stated.