Melaye’s recall: Result of signature verification expected today

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is
expected to announce today the outcome of the verification of
signatures for the recall process of embattled Senator Dino Melaye
which was conducted yesterday in Kogi West.

The verification process started with low turnout early
yesterday but peaked later in the afternoon.

At Ukwo-Okoriko Compound in Koton-Karfe, Ward A, unit 003 with
440 petitioners, only 18 had their signatures verified at about
11.00 a.m.

The electoral officer, Musa Iliasu, said only 18 had been
verified but added that it was only INEC that would say which
signature was genuine or otherwise.

At the Ohogabi polling unit near the public tap, 500 petitioners
out of the 991 registered voters, only 43 petitioners had their
signatures verified by 11:37 a.m.

Similarly, in Banda, Lokoja Local Government, Oworo Ward 8, Unit
012 with 512 petitioners, out of 1005 registered voters, only 40
were verified at about 12:09 p.m.

At Oworo Ward 8, unit 004 with over 3,340 registered voters and
815 petitioners, none of the petitioners had shown up for the
exercise at the time of filing this report.

At Lokoja Club polling unit, Ward A, unit 016, with 875
petitioners only two had registered their presence at the unit and
both complained that their signatures were forged as they were
never part of the petitioners.

One of the petitioners at Lokoja Club polling unit Ward A, unit
016, Samuel Olukotun, threatened to sue the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) for allegedly listing him and his wife
as petitioners in the recall bid.

Doris Ndakwo, a member representing Lokoja II at the State House
of Assembly, said the process was new and people did not quite
understand.

She added that some people came out but could not find their
names.

Ndakwo, however, commended the peaceful disposition of the
people.

The exercise took place across the local government areas in the
Senatorial District.

The verification exercise was a follow up to the meeting of
stakeholders convened by INEC on Wednesday in Lokoja, the Kogi
State capital.

Contrary to apprehensions that card readers might malfunction
and mar the recall process of verification officers confirmed their
effectiveness in the exercise.

The polling Officer at Ukwo-Okoriko Compound, Ward A, Unit 003,
Koton-Karfe, Musa Iliasu and Sen. Dino Melaye verification agent at
the unit, Imam Sani said the cards readers did not malfunction
throughout the exercise.

At Banda, Oworo Ward 8, Unit 012, Johnson Salifu also confirmed
the functionality of the card reader.

Patricia Aifakokhan, the NYSC Polling Officer at Lokoja Ward B
sharing the views of her contemporaries in other units confirmed
that the card readers functioned perfectly.

Administrator of Kogi LGA, Mohammed Tanko Musa, said he was
impressed with the orderly conduct of the exercise, adding that
though the township witnessed low turnout, reports from the
hinterlands would be different.

Meanwhile, the senator is currently receiving treatment at the
National Hospital in Abuja following injuries probably sustained
when he jumped out of a police vehicle to escape arrest.

Police men remained stationed yesterday at the National
Hospital, where Melaye is still receiving treatment.

He was arrested to face trial in Kogi over allegations made by
some hoodlums who alleged that the senator supplied them with
weapons.

A NAN correspondent who visited the National Hospital observed
that no fewer than 20 officers and men of Nigerian Police Force
were seen in and around the trauma centre where the Senator was
receiving the treatment.

NAN also reports that in spite the ongoing strike embarked on by
health workers, some doctors were attending to the injured
senator.

The senator was earlier taken to Zankli Medical Centre in Utako
District in Abuja and later moved to the national hospital.

Reacting, the Spokesperson of the hospital, Dr Adetayo Haastrup
told NAN that the senator was in a stable condition in the
hospital.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is
expected to announce today the outcome of the verification of
signatures for the recall process of embattled Senator Dino Melaye
which was conducted yesterday in Kogi West.

The verification process started with low turnout early
yesterday but peaked later in the afternoon.

At Ukwo-Okoriko Compound in Koton-Karfe, Ward A, unit 003 with
440 petitioners, only 18 had their signatures verified at about
11.00 a.m.

The electoral officer, Musa Iliasu, said only 18 had been
verified but added that it was only INEC that would say which
signature was genuine or otherwise.

At the Ohogabi polling unit near the public tap, 500 petitioners
out of the 991 registered voters, only 43 petitioners had their
signatures verified by 11:37 a.m.

Similarly, in Banda, Lokoja Local Government, Oworo Ward 8, Unit
012 with 512 petitioners, out of 1005 registered voters, only 40
were verified at about 12:09 p.m.

At Oworo Ward 8, unit 004 with over 3,340 registered voters and
815 petitioners, none of the petitioners had shown up for the
exercise at the time of filing this report.

At Lokoja Club polling unit, Ward A, unit 016, with 875
petitioners only two had registered their presence at the unit and
both complained that their signatures were forged as they were
never part of the petitioners.

One of the petitioners at Lokoja Club polling unit Ward A, unit
016, Samuel Olukotun, threatened to sue the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) for allegedly listing him and his wife
as petitioners in the recall bid.

Doris Ndakwo, a member representing Lokoja II at the State House
of Assembly, said the process was new and people did not quite
understand.

She added that some people came out but could not find their
names.

Ndakwo, however, commended the peaceful disposition of the
people.

The exercise took place across the local government areas in the
Senatorial District.

The verification exercise was a follow up to the meeting of
stakeholders convened by INEC on Wednesday in Lokoja, the Kogi
State capital.

Contrary to apprehensions that card readers might malfunction
and mar the recall process of verification officers confirmed their
effectiveness in the exercise.

The polling Officer at Ukwo-Okoriko Compound, Ward A, Unit 003,
Koton-Karfe, Musa Iliasu and Sen. Dino Melaye verification agent at
the unit, Imam Sani said the cards readers did not malfunction
throughout the exercise.

At Banda, Oworo Ward 8, Unit 012, Johnson Salifu also confirmed
the functionality of the card reader.

Patricia Aifakokhan, the NYSC Polling Officer at Lokoja Ward B
sharing the views of her contemporaries in other units confirmed
that the card readers functioned perfectly.

Administrator of Kogi LGA, Mohammed Tanko Musa, said he was
impressed with the orderly conduct of the exercise, adding that
though the township witnessed low turnout, reports from the
hinterlands would be different.

Meanwhile, the senator is currently receiving treatment at the
National Hospital in Abuja following injuries probably sustained
when he jumped out of a police vehicle to escape arrest.

Police men remained stationed yesterday at the National
Hospital, where Melaye is still receiving treatment.

He was arrested to face trial in Kogi over allegations made by
some hoodlums who alleged that the senator supplied them with
weapons.

A NAN correspondent who visited the National Hospital observed
that no fewer than 20 officers and men of Nigerian Police Force
were seen in and around the trauma centre where the Senator was
receiving the treatment.

NAN also reports that in spite the ongoing strike embarked on by
health workers, some doctors were attending to the injured
senator.

The senator was earlier taken to Zankli Medical Centre in Utako
District in Abuja and later moved to the national hospital.

Reacting, the Spokesperson of the hospital, Dr Adetayo Haastrup
told NAN that the senator was in a stable condition in the
hospital.