INEC announces timetable for Melaye’s recall

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday released the timetable for the recall of Senator Dino Melaye.

The embattled senator is representing Kogi West at the National Assembly.

In the timetable released on Monday, INEC stated that the process of recall would take place between July 10, 2017 and August 19, 2017.

The regulatory body had on June 22, 2017, wrote a letter to Melaye, informing him that it had fixed July 3 to announce details of his recall process.

But the decision of the INEC to kickstart the recall of Melaye is coming amidst efforts by Melaye’s lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) to stop the commission from commencing the process.

INEC had last week acknowledged receiving a petition from Melaye’s constituents seeking to recall him from the Senate.

No fewer than 52 per cent of registered voters in Dino Melaye’s constituency have signed the petition.

The EFCC had also written to Melaye, informing him formally of the receipt of the petition against him, saying that it would begin the process on July 3.

Melaye’s lawyer, Ozekhome, had filed a suit before a Federal High Court in Abuja in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/587/2017, challenging the propriety of the bid to recall him.

Ozekhome later wrote to INEC, informing the commission of the suit and asking it not to proceed with the recall process until the matter is determined.