The Independent National
Electoral Commission says it is not aware of any moves to recall Dino Melaye,
the senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District.
INEC Director of Voter Education
and Publicity (VEP), Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, said this in an interview with the
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
Explaining the processes involved
in recalling an elected lawmaker, Mr. Osaze-Uzzi said a petition signed by at
least 50 per cent of the registered voters in that senatorial district must be
submitted to the commission.
“It is only when the petitioners
get 50 per cent of the registered voters that they can submit a recall petition
to the commission.
“That is when INEC can commence
the recall process, but we have not received such petition.’’
Mr. Osaze-Uzzi said upon the
receipt of such petition, the commission would also embark on verification, to
ascertain whether the recall petition was actually signed by registered voters
in that senatorial district.
He said in conducting the
verification of the signatures, the commission would also need to inform the
senator involved and the petitioner, to set a date for agents from both sides
to be involved in the exercise.
“It is only when we are satisfied
with that, we now go for a referendum. That is what the constitution states.
“For now, we don’t know if
anybody is trying to recall him until a petition is submitted to the
commission.’’
The director further said that
the commission would notify the public if anybody or group was able to mobilise
the required number of signatures and send a petition to the commission.
Meanwhile, Mr. Melaye had alleged
that Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi had released N200 million for the reported
ongoing moves to recall him.
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