Kogi PDP to Drag INEC to Court over Melaye’s Recall Process
Members of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) in the western senatorial district of Kogi State have resolved to commence a legal challenge on the malpractices that manifested during the recently concluded recall process conducted on the tenure of Senator Dino Melaye on April 28, 2018, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
Rising from a special meeting held in Kabba, the Kogi West PDP, in a communique signed by the senatorial Chairman, Taiwo Kola-Ojo, reflected the disappointment of party members, who complained that though they never at any time signed the petition against Senator Dino Melaye, were shocked to discover that their data and signatures were displayed during the verification exercise.
Fearing that the manipulations inherent in the exercise signposted a pilot scheme for perfecting rigging during the impending general election in the country, party members have demanded for the criminal prosecution of all those involved in signature forgery and in the presentation of deceased persons as sponsors of the recall.
Wondering how INEC could not see through the criminal manipulations in voters’ data during the exercise, the Kogi West PDP served a notice to INEC to be ready to defend its negligence of duty, conspiracy and wasteful application of public funds.
Stating that the party’s action was not partisan but prompted by public good, members believed that the prosecution of criminals and their collaborators, would deter future commission and prevent wasteful expenditure of public resources.
While noting with pleasure that the failure of the exercise was substantially attributable to the role played by party members in the district, members again appealed to the people of Kogi West to avoid a repeat of the mistakes of the 2015 governorship election, during which many voted to substitute a tolerant and people- oriented party like the PDP to obtain the reign of terror, intimidation and persecution that prevails in Kogi State today.
The communique further called on INEC to be more efficient in the on-going Continuous Voters’ Registration exercise in the state, to avoid disenfranchisement of many intending voters, who are still unable to register, owing to poor access to registration machines.
The party commended its members for remaining steadfast in siding with the party, the hostility against opposition parties in the state notwithstanding.