The Independent National Electoral Commission has said it won’t stop the process of recalling Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye.

What happened:

• Kogi West constituents had called for the recall of Melaye from the Senate.
• But the Senator had approached a court to stop the recall process, stating that the signatures gathered by INEC was fake. The court later asked INEC to stop the recall process temporarily.
• However, a court lifted the suspension and asked INEC to proceed with the recall process. The court also asked INEC to serve Melaye the recall documents. The Senator however frustrated several efforts to serve him the papers.
• A Federal High Court last week transferred the case to an Appeal Court.

What INEC is saying:

INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu at a quarterly consultative meeting in Abuja on Tuesday said;

• Despite the obstacles, INEC will continue with the recall process.
• The constituents have the right to recall anybody in a democratic setting.

He said, “There was a pronouncement on Thursday last week on the matter and everything has been taking to the Court of Appeal. We are waiting to be served with court documents and the commission will take a decision today.

“Ultimately, election and recall are legal processes and we will not violate the laws of this country but I want to assure you that we will proceed courageously. Citizens must have the right to recall anybody as long as the process is in conformity with the law of this country and I am committed to that.”

• He also asked politicians planning to contest in 2018 and 2019 to stop campaigning.
• He added that it contravenes the Electoral Act, which states that political parties should commence campaigns not later than 3 months before the election day.

Yakubu said, “Let me warn political parties and aspirants. We have not released the schedule of activities for the elections. Anything that anybody does is illegal before the law. They should wait for the time table of the elections.”

Azeez