The Independent National Electoral Commission has taken the next step in the recall process of Senator Dino Melaye who represents Kogi West District.
INEC on Monday pasted the notice of verification on the walls of the local government area office of in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, for the electorate to see the progress of the recall initiated by the lawmaker’s constituents.
In the notice, dated July 10, 2017, and signed by INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the commission fixed August 19 for the verification
“In accordance with Section 69 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), notice is hereby given that the verification for the recall of the member representing Kogi West Senatorial District shall hold on August 19, 2017,” the notice read.
The electoral umpire specified that the verification to recall the senator would hold between 8 am and 2 pm on the said date in the senatorial district.
INEC officials however said the notice did not mean Melaye’s recall was concluded.
“Pasting the verification notice is just the first leg of the process which cannot hurt Melaye in any way. Even the process does not amount to removing the senator,” the officials added.
INEC also admitted that it had been served with an order of a Federal High Court, Abuja, which asked the commission and Melaye to maintain status quo in the suit the lawmaker filed to challenge his recall process.
The spokesman of INEC chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, said the Legal Services Department of the commission was studying the order.
