Only court can stop Dino Melaye’s recall process – INEC fires back at Senate

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that only a legitimate court order can stop the recall process of Senator Dino Melaye.

Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said this on Tuesday while speaking to newsmen in Abuja.

The commission has already fixed August 19 for verification of signatures of petitioners demanding Melaye’s recall, amid various 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,” he said.

On claims by Melaye that some of the signatures submitted to INEC were forged and that names of dead registered voters were also included, Oyekanmi said: “The commission will adopt its normal way of conducting the verification exercise, which will be applicable to both the literate and not-so-literate.”