The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Thursday, July 13, 2017 disclosed that it will halt the process of recalling Dino Melaye, a senator representing Kogi West.
According to Adedeji Soyebi, a national commissioner of INEC, the decision is in line with a court ruling. He also revealed that the electoral body would be appealing the court ruling.
A federal high court sitting in Abuja asked INEC and Melaye to maintain “status quo” pending the determination of a suit filed by Melaye challenging the recall process.
However, INEC continued with the recall process in disobedience with the court order and staying true to the character of the commission under the Muhammadu Buhari regime.
According to 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 judgement 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 judgement 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.”
