Melaye recall process begins October, says INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has released a new time table for the recall of Senator Dino Melaye, APC Senator representing Kogi West at the National Assembly.

The table showed the notice of verification will begin on October 3, while the last day of submission of application by observers will be October 5.

The publication of the list of accredited observers will be on October 9, following which there will be a stakeholders meeting at both the senatorial district headquarters and the local government headquarters on October 10.

The last day for submission of names of polling agents for verification by the lawmaker to be recalled and representatives of the petitioners will be on October 12. The final verification will hold on October 14, according to the INEC timetable

Recall that the Commission, last July, had released a timetable for Melaye’s recall, but a court order, following a suit instituted by the senator, stopped the process pending the determination of the case.

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But an Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, last week, ordered the continuation of the Senator’s recall, holding that the electorate whose petition resulted in the process had a right to request the removal of their senator from office since they are the ones who elected him in the first instance.

The court also held that the constitution does not require a special provision that mandates the INEC to grant the senator an opportunity for fair hearing.

The court then ruled that the INEC provides Melaye with the recall petition, a schedule of signatures attached to the petitions, and a full list of persons in support of the recall process, within two weeks before an amended timetable for the recall would be made.

In fixing the new timetable, the INEC said enough time had been given for the senator to study the petitions and other attachments to enable him to prepare for the exercise.