The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has described the move by the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) to effect the recall of Dino Melaye from the Senate back to the village as ‘dead on arrival.’
He gave Melaye assurance of the support of the upper chamber in his present travail with people of his Kogi West Senatorial zone that are working hard to remove him from the Senate, proclaiming the recall process “dead on arrival.”
Senator Melaye had, today, Tuesday, sought for the support of his colleagues over the drum of recall that is being beating by people of his constituency, saying that the recall issue is being sponsored by the State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
He cited Order 14 of the Senate Rule and pleaded with his colleagues to act.
Assuring him of the support he sought for, the Deputy Senate President said that the Constitution made recall a cumbersome process, and that as such, it would be difficult for Melaye’s opponents to succeed.
“The Senate would also verify the legitimacy of the votes before a conclusion is made,” Ekweremadu said.
Melaye’s call on his colleagues to intervene came on the heels of a time table for his recall that was released yesterday, Monday, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Meanwhile, signatures for Melaye’s recall have been collected at his constituency in an exercise that began on June 10.
Campaigners said that 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 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 that it would proceed with the recall process since there was no court injunction stopping it. [myad]
