INEC paste Details of Dino Melaye’s Recall Despite Court Order

INEC has resolved to maintain status quo in recalling Senator Dino Melaye following an order of a Federal High Court asking the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain status quo in the process.

The electoral body on Monday, posted the notice of verification of the Kogi West senator which usually begins the recall process of the lawmakers from the National Assembly.

The notice of verification was posted on the walls of the local government area office of INEC in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

In the notice, dated July 10, 2017 and signed by INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, the commission fixed August 19 for the verification according to Punch reports.

“In accordance with Section 69 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), notice is hereby given that the verification for the recall of the member representing Kogi West Senatorial District shall hold on August 19, 2017,” the notice read.

The INEC stated that the verification to recall the senator would hold between 8am and 2pm on the said date in the senatorial district.

An unnamed INEC official told the newspaper that the notice did not mean Melaye’s recall was concluded.

“Pasting the verification notice is just the first leg of the process which cannot hurt Melaye in any way. Even the process does not amount to removing the senator,” the source added.

Meanwhile, INEC said revealed that it had been served the order of a Federal High Court, Abuja, which asked the commission and Melaye to maintain status quo.

The Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said the commission received the order on Monday.

Oyekanmi said the Legal Services Department of the commission was studying the order and that INEC will decide on what next to do after the order had been studied.

He said the commission had gone ahead with the recall process because it only received the court order on Monday

“I was told this morning that the court papers have arrived at the Legal Services Department; so, the response would be forwarded to the commission for determination.