Please save me from recall – Dino Melaye begs senators, says Yahaya Bello is the mastermind

The senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District Dino Melaye, at the Senate plenary today, July 4th, begged his colleagues to save him from being recalled by his constituents.

Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission has unveiled a timetable and modalities for the exercise.

The senator restated his claim that his recall was singlehandedly masterminded by his state governor, Yahaya Bello.

Mr. Melaye cited Order 14 of the Senate Rule and pleaded with his colleagues to act.

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, assured Mr. Melaye of the upper chamber’s support, proclaiming the recall process “dead on arrival.”

Mr. Ekweremadu said the Constitution made recall a cumbersome process, and, as such, would be difficult for Mr. Melaye’s opponents to succeed.

“The Senate would also verify the legitimacy of the votes before a conclusion is made,” Mr. Ekweremadu said; although the deputy senate president’s claim is not stated in the constitutional requirement for recall.

Signatures for Mr. Melaye’s recall were collected at his constituency in an exercise that began on June 10.

Campaigners said 188,588 signatures were submitted to INEC, which is more than 52 per cent of about 260,000 voters in the constituency.