Dino Melaye, a senator from Kogi State, on Friday, June 23, 2017 filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, with a view of stopping the process of recalling him from the Nigerian Senate.
This lawsuit comes one day after INEC officially informed him of the receipt of a petition for his recall.
In an originating summons filed at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, Senator Melaye said the process undertaking by his constituents was unconstitutional because it is malicious and fraudulent.
Melaye shared the first page of the 34-page summons on his Twitter handle.
My case against INEC filed today pic.twitter.com/jGH95H0MYR
— Senator Dino Melaye. (SDM) (@_dinomelaye) June 23, 2017
The emergency court process, with suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/567/2017, was filed by Mr. Melaye’s lawyers at Mike Ozekhome Chambers in Abuja.
The lawmaker prayed the court to grant an urgent injunction prohibiting the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from going ahead with his recall as authorised by Section 69 of the Constitution.
He said the signatures collated by those seeking his recall were fictitious as they allegedly contained those of dead people, and, as such, any action taken by INEC over the exercise should be voided.
In an unprecedented exercise, voters in Kogi West Senatorial District signed a petition for Mr. Melaye’s recall on June 10.
INEC received the collated signatures, reportedly of 188,000 voters on Wednesday, last.
Senator Melaye had hitherto said he was not threatened by the process, mocking those behind it and highlighting the cumbersome nature of constitutional requirements for recall.
Even dead people were among those who signed petition to recall Dino Melaiye. Lmaooo😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/CVD2MTCgvJ
— Senator Dino Melaye. (SDM) (@_dinomelaye) June 23, 2017
Additional reports by Premium Times.
