We have role to play in Melaye’s recall process, Senate insists
The Senate has reaffirmed it’s stand that it has a role to play in the recall process of any Senator.
The Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu rising on order 43 of the Senate rules, yesterday drew the attention of the Senate to an advertorial by the Kogi state government in a national daily, stating that the Senate has no role in a recall process of Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West senatorial district.
Ekweremadu cited section 68 (2) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that INEC must write to NASS on such development.
According to the Deputy Senate President, the Constitution, states that “the President of the Senate or the speaker of the House of Representatives, as the case may be, shall give effect to provisions of subsection (1) of this section, so however that the President of the Senate or the speaker of the House Representatives or a member shall first present evidence satisfactory to the house concerned that any of the provisions of that subsection has become applicable in respect of that member.”
Both Ekweremadu and the Senate President Bukola Saraki, disagreed with the position of the Kogi State Attorney General on the procedure for recall which he had contended that the Senate has no say in the matter and referring to section 68 (8).
The Daily Times recalls that Ekwerenmadu had during a debate on the matter, argued that the recall process must pass through the Senate for vetting after INEC must have concluded it’s process.
He berated the Kogi State Attorney General, saying that his knowledge of the law is limited.
The Senate President Bukola Saraki, in his response regretted that the involvement of the Kogi State Government in the advertorial using it’s resources, is a clear indication that it is behind Dino Melaye’s travails.
The Senate President also expressed concern about the Calibre of people holding senior public offices.
Saraki further lamented that it was unfortunate for the state government to spend a whooping N12million on adverts in response to the contribution of a lawmaker even when the state has not been able to pay salaries. He also described the situation as unfortunate for Kogi people.
Saraki also stated that the response from the state government, the energy and funding invested in the process shows that the state government is behind the recall process.
