No going back on Dino Melaye’s recall process, INEC says it can’t be stopped

*Kogi Senator in trouble, on final leg of political collapse – Respondent

“We have a Court of Appeal judgment on why court cannot stop the process. This judgment is dated back to 2001. Since there is a subsisting Court of Appeal judgment, we will abide by it.”

In spite of court order, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has continued with the recall process of Sen. Dino Melaye, saying that the electoral body could not be stopped from performing its constitutional duty.

According to a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report quoting the Nation, INEC on Monday pasted the notice of the verification of the recall process at its Kogi state office.

Melaye, representing Kogi West Senatorial District, is facing a recall by his constituents who have filed a recall with signatures; the recall will run from July 10 to August 19.

INEC decided to continue with the process based on precedents and judicial pronouncements, especially the Appeal Court judgment of 2001.

Mallam Mohammed Haruna, National Commissioner of INEC in charge of North-Central, said the Court of Appeal had since 2001 decided that a court cannot stop the recall of a lawmaker.

The INEC “Notice of Verification”, states: “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 of Kogi State shall hold as follows:

“Date: 19th August, 2017; Time: 8am-2pm; Location: All polling units in Kogi West Senatorial District.”

A source said: “If you look at the provision of Section 87(10) of the Electoral Act, 2010(As amended), which is applicable in this instance, INEC cannot be stopped from doing its work of conducting election in any manner whatsoever.

“The provision of Section 110 of the 1999 Constitution is actually explicit on the recall. As an institution, INEC has nothing against Melaye or any lawmaker. We are expected to follow the constitution and the Electoral Act. Implementing a recall process is not a suicide mission for any lawmaker. If a lawmaker has the backing of his or her constituents, the recall process will be dead on arrival.”

Haruna said: “We have a Court of Appeal judgment on why court cannot stop the process. This judgment is dated back to 2001.

“Since there is a subsisting Court of Appeal judgment, we will abide by it.”

The notice, dated July 3rd, 2017, reads : “In exercise of the powers conferred on the Independent National Electoral Commission(“the Commission”) by Sections 69 and 110 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999(as amended); Section 116 of the Electoral Act 2010(as amended) and of all the powers enabling it in that behalf, the Commission hereby issues this timetable schedule of activities for the recall of the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Kogi State.”

A respondent, who has been talking to The DEFENDER against what he called the illegality of Melaye and Senate’s threats and efforts at scuttling the recall by INEC, has described the latest position by electoral umpire as the final leg of Senator Dino Melaye’s political collapse.