OREDOLA ADEOLA|
Recall process for the embattled Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial district, Mr. Dino Melaye, has suffered set back as the entire exercise recorded low turnout of voters.
The constituency especially in Kabba area, recorded low turnout as our sources in the state disclosed that Kabba people are solidly behind their son, whom they said had done so much for them than to be recalled.
At the Ayetoro Gbede polling unit, in Senator Melaye's ward, a traditional ruler, Chief Ojo Adekunle, who led some youths to protest against the recall process, said that they were not aware of Melaye’s offence.
Adekunle told the newsmen that Melaye was the best Senator Kogi West had ever produced, and urged his people not to betray their representative at this trying period.
As at the time of filing this report, at polling unit 003 idoyi/iluke ward 12 in kabba Bunu local government, no single voter was seen at the verification center, except for two INEC Adhoc staff.
In Ayere/Arimah Ward, Unit 001- 8 said YES out of 205, Unit 002- 7 said YES out of 200, Unit 003- 18 said YES out of 266, Unit 004- 22 said YES out of 175 voters.
Other polling units visited by our sources in the state recorded low voters , while INEC Adhoc staff in some units seated all through without recording any signature from voters.
Efforts of INEC to verify the 188,588 signatures representing about 51% of registered voters in Kogi West Senatorial District failed as less than less that 10 percent of the registered voters showed up for the process.
Some voters who saw their names on the list disowned some of the signatures, claiming that they were forged.
The Editorials gathered that there are about 10 steps required to effect the recall of a senator in Nigeria. According to section 69 of the 1999 constitution , a senator can be recalled from the Senate.
If:
*More than half of the registered voters in the Senator’s senatorial district write, sign and send a petition to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC alleging their loss of confidence in the senatorial.
*The petition must be signed, and arranged according to polling units, wards, Local Government Areas, and constituency.
*INEC notifies the Senator sought to be recalled, stating that it has received a petition for his or her recall, if the petition is valid.
*INEC issues a public notice or announcement stating the date, time and location of the verification of signatures to the petition.
* INEC verifies the signatures to the petition at the designation. The signatories must be individuals who appear on the voters’ register.
* INEC conducts a referendum if more than one half (50% + 1) of the signatories are verified.
* INEC writes to the petitioners stating that the minimum requirements for a referendum were not met, if the number verified is less than one half of the registered voters in that constituency. The petition will therefore be dismissed.
* INEC conducts a referendum within 90 days of receipt of the petition if the minimum requirements for a referendum are met. The referendum will be a simple yes or no vote on whether the Senator should be recalled, and will be decided by simple majority of the votes of the persons registered to vote in that Senator’s constituency.
* If majority of the voters in the constituency vote ‘yes’ the Chairman of the INEC will send a Certificate of Recall to the Senate President to effect the recall.
* The Senate President will show affected senator the way out of the Senate.
Meanwhile with figures emerging from the recall process in Kogi West Senatorial district, since there was no majority “yes” from the voters, Senator Melaye may still remains the Senator of the constituency.
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