The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kogi State on Wednesday announced time-table for commencement of the recall process of the member representing Kogi West at the National Assembly, Senator Dino Melaye.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Prof. James Apam, said following the appeal court ruling that INEC could commence the recall process, the commission had fixed April 28 as the verification date.
INEC also fixed May 5 as the day that a referendum would be conducted in line with the electoral laws.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum on Wednesday in Lokoja, the state capital, Apam also disclosed that the electoral body fixed May 5 as the day that a referendum would be conducted in line with the electoral laws.
He said, “On this day, the Commission will endeavour to invite all those who have signed the recall register to come forward and identify their signature.”
According to him, if this process is successful, the Commission will proceed to the next stage where a referendum of all registered voters would be conducted.
“Here, voters will be asked to vote either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the question of whether they want Senator Dino Melaye recalled.
“If the answer meets the constitutional requirements of 51 percent ‘yes,’ the process moves to the next stage; but if it fails, the process stops,” Apam explained.
The appeal court had last week thrown out Melaye’s suit challenging the move to recall him.
But the embattled senator has vowed to proceed to the Supreme Court to challenge the decision.
