SAN FRANCISCO, July 05, (THEWILL) – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that only a legitimate court order could stop the recall of Senator Dino Melaye as demanded by his Kogi West constituents.
This was disclosed by Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, who told newsmen in Abuja that filing a lawsuit was not enough 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.
However, Oyekanmi said the actions of the commission were being guided by the provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
“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,” he stated.
“Subsequently, the Commission, in the 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.
“Only a legitimate court order or an injunction can be considered by the commission.”
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 process of verification would clear all that.
