- The PDP said it will drag INEC to court over the failed recall of Senator Dino Melaye
- The opposition party said even though its members did not sign the recall petition against Melaye, their data and signatures appeared during the verification exercise
- It, therefore, demanded criminal prosecution of those allegedly involved in the claimed signature forgery
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi state on Tuesday, May 8, expressed its readiness to challenge in court the malpractices that manifested during the failed recall of the senator representing Kogi west senatorial district, Dino Melaye.
The opposition party said it would drag the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in court for the irregularities that trailed the exercise, Nigerian Tribune reports.
NAIJ.com gathered that the Kogi west chapter of the party in a communiqué after its stakeholder’s meeting which was signed by the senatorial chairman, Taiwo Kola-Ojo, said the party was disappointed with the revelations on the recall date where many of its members said their names were illegally put on the list of those that signed the petition to recall Melaye.
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The party said that though they never at any time signed the petition against Melaye, they were shocked to discover that their data and signatures were displayed during the verification exercise.
The party, therefore, demanded 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 fund.
The PDP noted that the failure of the exercise was substantially attributable to the role played by its party members in the district.
It 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 prevail in the 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.
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The party commended its members for remaining steadfast in siding with the party, despite the hostility against the opposition party in the state.
NAIJ.com previously reported that the leadership of the National Assembly on Monday, May 7, reported Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris to President Muhammadu Buhari for his failure to appear before the Senate for the second time over the issue of Senator Melaye.
Senate president Bukola Saraki and the speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, confirmed this development to State House correspondents on Monday after a closed-door meeting with the president in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Saraki said they raised the issue of Senator Melaye to the president because of the refusal of the IGP to honour Senate’s invitations.
Kogi West senatorial district to recall senator Dino Melaye from the Nigerian Senate - On NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naija.ng
