Court orders INEC to proceed with Dino Melaye ’s recall process

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday dismissed the suit filed by the senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Dino Melaye, challenging the recall process initiated by his constituents.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to proceed with the process.

The judgment effectively terminated the ex parte order made by Justice John Tsoho of the same court, on July 6, directing parties in the matter to maintain status quo.

Justice Dimgba noted that the 90 days period within which the Constitution ordered the INEC to conduct a referendum on the matter elapsed on June 23, when Dino Melaye commenced the suit.

He ordered that the period would only continue running from Monday.

The judge also directed INEC to issue an amended recall timetable giving Dino Melaye a minimum of two weeks to prepare his defence against the recall process.

INEC had set July 3 as the commencement date for the recall process  after voters in Kogi West voted for the senator’s recall.

A total of 188, 588 signatures were submitted to INEC by a representative of the zone.

The figure represented 52.3 per cent of the total registered voters in the district.