Sen. Dino Melaye

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Tuesday that nobody, including the Senate can stop the ongoing process of recall of Senator representing Kogi West zone, Dino Melaye.

Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi  told journalists on that the process can only be stopped by  ‘a legitimate court order.’

He added that the commission has already fixed August 19 for verification of signatures of petitioners demanding Melaye’s recall,  inspite of the lawsuits instituted to stop the process.

“The constituents came with sacks of documents which they said were `the signatures’ of more than half of the voting population of Kogi West Senatorial District, which Melaye represents.

“They also presented a register of the said signatories and a letter, asking INEC to begin the process of recalling the Senator representing that particular district.

“Subsequently, the commission, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by Sections 116 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), on Monday issued a timetable and schedule of activities for the recall of the Senator.

“The first stage is a verification exercise slated for July 10, 2017. To that extent, filing a lawsuit is not enough to stop INEC from carrying out its legitimate duty.

“Only a legitimate court order or an injunction can be considered by the commission.”

Oyekanmi added that the claims by Melaye that some of the signatures submitted to INEC were forged and that names of dead registered voters were also included will be tested through the verification exercise, which will be applicable to both the literate and not-so-literate.

It will be recalled that Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, had described the move to recall   Melaye by his constituency as ‘dead on arrival’ during the plenary of the upper chamber on Tuesday.

This followed the appeal of the embattled Melaye to his colleagues for support over the recall which he claimed is being sponsored by the State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

Ekweremadu noted 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.