Failed Dino recall: Kogi PDP drags INEC To court

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State on Tuesday 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 party said it would drag the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in court for the irregularities that trailed the exercise. The Kogi west chapter of the party in a communiqué after its stakeholder’s meeting and 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. The party said many of its complained that though they never at any time signed the petition against Melaye, but were shocked to discover that their data and signatures were displayed during the verification exercise. The people, who expressed fear that the manipulations inherent in the exercise sign-posted a pilot scheme for perfecting rigging during the next general elections in the country, 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. Stating that the party’s action was not partisan but prompted by the public good, members believed that the prosecution of vote criminals and their collaborators, would deter future commission and prevent the wasteful expenditure of public resources. The PDP noted that the failure of the exercise was substantially attributable to the role played by its 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 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. The party commended its members for remaining steadfast in siding with the party, the hostility against opposition parties in the state notwithstanding.]]>