The Kogi State senator, Dino Melaye, at the Senate plenary on
Tuesday rallied his colleagues to save him from being recalled by
his constituents.
The appeal comes as the Independent National Electoral
Commission unveiled a timetable and modalities for the exercise at
his Kogi West Senatorial District.
The senator restated his claim that his recall was masterminded
by his state governor, Yahaya Bello.
The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, assured Mr. Melaye
of the upper chamber’s support, proclaiming the recall process
“dead on arrival.”
Mr. Ekweremadu said the Constitution made recall a cumbersome
process, and, as such, would be difficult for Mr. Melaye’s
opponents to succeed.
“The Senate would also verify the legitimacy of the votes before
a conclusion is made,” Mr. Ekweremadu said; although the deputy
senate president’s claim is not stated in the constitutional
requirement for recall.
Signatures for Mr. Melaye’s recall were collected at his
constituency in an exercise that began on June 10.
Campaigners said 188,588 signatures were submitted to INEC,
which is more than 52 per cent of about 260,000 voters in the
constituency.
On June 22, INEC notified Mr. Melaye of the recall process. His
lawyers responded with a lawsuit the next day, asking the electoral
body to stay all actions relating to the exercise.
INEC, however, said it would proceed with the recall process
since there was no court injunction stopping it.
The Kogi State senator, Dino Melaye, at the Senate plenary on
Tuesday rallied his colleagues to save him from being recalled by
his constituents.
The appeal comes as the Independent National Electoral
Commission unveiled a timetable and modalities for the exercise at
his Kogi West Senatorial District.
The senator restated his claim that his recall was masterminded
by his state governor, Yahaya Bello.
The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, assured Mr. Melaye
of the upper chamber’s support, proclaiming the recall process
“dead on arrival.”
Mr. Ekweremadu said the Constitution made recall a cumbersome
process, and, as such, would be difficult for Mr. Melaye’s
opponents to succeed.
“The Senate would also verify the legitimacy of the votes before
a conclusion is made,” Mr. Ekweremadu said; although the deputy
senate president’s claim is not stated in the constitutional
requirement for recall.
Signatures for Mr. Melaye’s recall were collected at his
constituency in an exercise that began on June 10.
Campaigners said 188,588 signatures were submitted to INEC,
which is more than 52 per cent of about 260,000 voters in the
constituency.
On June 22, INEC notified Mr. Melaye of the recall process. His
lawyers responded with a lawsuit the next day, asking the electoral
body to stay all actions relating to the exercise.
INEC, however, said it would proceed with the recall process
since there was no court injunction stopping it.
Read more https://nairalaw.com/save-me-from-recall-dino-melaye-begs-senators/