The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has announced it will commence the verification of signatures of those seeking the recall of Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye on April 28.
INEC’s Federal Commissioner, Mr Mohammed Haruna, stated this at a stakeholders meeting in Lokoja, Kogi State on the commencement of the recall process.
Haruna said the verification exercise would hold in 552 polling units in seven local governments under Kogi West senatorial district.
The Federal Commissioner disclosed that the verification will hold from 8 am to 2 pm using the card reading machines to authenticate the voter cards of those that signed the recall petition.
“Only those who signed the petition are expected to turn up at their polling units for verification,” Haruna said.
Also speaking, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for the state, Prof. James Apam said the exercise will be monitored by local observers.
Stressing that no party agents would be allowed access to any of the polling units, Apam stated that the result of the exercise will be announced on April 29.
“We have concluded all arrangements in line with our schedule of activities and are set for the exercise.
“The adhoc staff have been trained at the state and local government levels and materials procured and sent to the registration area centres ready for movement to the polling units on the day of verification,” Apam said.
Dino Melaye jumped out a moving Police vehicle to resist being taken to Lokoja, Kogi state on Tuesday, April 24, 2018.
The act landed Dino in hospital.
At the hospital where he’s hospitalized, Senator Bala Na’Allah said Dino Melaye has not eaten any food or taken water.
Na’Allah disclosed this after his visit to the National Hospital where Melaye was receiving treatment on Wednesday, April 25, 2018.
The lawmaker also told the Senate that Melaye is currently at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital.
Na’Allah and his colleague who visited the hospital were denied access to Melaye.
“We went to the National Hospital this morning where Senator Dino was alleged to have been kept from yesterday and we confirmed that he was brought yesterday at about 11pm,” he began.
“We spoke to the doctor who is in charge of the ICU and they assured us that they are doing everything humanly possible to stabilize him but he is in the intensive care unit. We tried as much as possible to see him but we were refused access.
The instruction that was left by the Police is that only Senator Abu Ibrahim is permitted to see him.
“As at the time we were leaving the hospital, the feeding of Dino has become an issue because the Police are not willing to feed him because of the situation. They are afraid. The hospital has equally expressed reservations about feeding Senator Dino.
“A medical personnel from the Police who is working together with the trauma surgeon handling Dino told us that whoever is bringing the food for Dino must taste it. There is also a report that Dino has asthma so a chest surgeon was the one seen while we were leaving.
“Lastly, there was insistence to remove him from the National hospital but the management told them that an undertaken must be signed that whatever happens will be on them.
That is what is keeping Dino at the National Hospital till date because nobody is willing to sign,” he added
President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, and many senators later this afternoon around 1pm arrived at the National Hospital Abuja to visit Dino Melaye. They were allowed to See Dino but security and legislative aides who accompanied the lawmakers were, however, prevented from entering the facility, which is being guarded by about 30 stern looking policemen.
The visit lasted for about an hour after which Mr Saraki addressed journalists. He said Mr Melaye is in stable condition and receiving proper treatment.
“After the sitting at the Senate today, we resolved to come here because over 24 hours we have not heard or know about the state of senator Dino.
“We’ve just seen him and he is in intensive care. He’s stable for now. We know he hasn’t eaten for the last 24 hours, we are trying to resolve that, he’s on fluids and he’s being seen by cardiologists, by all specialists.
