Breaking: Recall Dino Melaye, Court of Appeal Orders INEC
The Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately commence the process of recalling Senator Dino Melaye, the senator representing Kogi West. The Court struck out Dino Melaye’s appeal for lacking in merit in a joint decision delivered by Justice T.O. Awotoye. The court also dismissed the appellant’s claim that he was denied fair hearing by the electoral umpire before commencing the recall process, noting that INEC is neither a tribunal nor a court of law. Justice Atowoye further held that there is no limitation to the counting of the 90 days for the recall process, as it can be extended, adding that INEC’s powers is statutory and not even the court can take away the powers of INEC to conduct a referendum. “The powers of the Independent National Electoral Commission is a statutory one given by the constitution and not even the court can take away the powers of INEC to conduct a referendum. “Such statutory bodies...