The move to recall Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West Senatorial District at the National Assembly has failed as the Saturday's signature verification exercise failed to meet the constitutional requirement to proceed with the exercise.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the results released at the INEC office, Lokoja, in the early hours of Sunday said only 5.34% signatures of the petitioners was verified as against the 50% plus 1 as required by the Electoral Act.
According to the result announced in Lokoja by INEC's Resident Electoral Commissioner in charge of Benue State, Professor Ukertor Gabriel Moti, said total numbers of registered voters in Kogi West was 351, 140.
The Commissioner added that the total number of petitioners' signatures collated for recall was 189, 870, while only 20, 868 signatory were present for accreditation.
He however said only 18,743 number of the signatures were verified at the end of the exercise.
According to the INEC Commissioner, the constitutional requirements and percentage to effect the recall of Senator was not met, hence, the Commission could not go to the next stage which is referendum.
In making his declaration, Prof Moti said: "I hereby affirm that the information on verification of signatures to the petition for the recall of Senator Dino Melaye of Kogi West Senatorial District has taken place on this date April 28, 2018 and that the verified signatures is 5.34% of the total number of registered voters in the constituency and has therefore not satisfied the requirements the law for a referendum".
Below is detail of the results for the seven local government areas where the exercise took place.
1. KOTON KARFE LGA
TOTAL NUMBERS OF REGISTERED VOTERS – 46,727.
TOTAL NUMBERS OF SIGNATURES ON THE PETITIONS – 24,459.
TOTAL NUMBERS OF SIGNATURES AT VERIFICATION – 2,566.
TOTAL NUMBERS OF SIGNATURES VERIFIED – 2, 335.
2. KABBA BUNU
TOTAL NUMBERS OF REGISTERED VOTERS 59,319
TOTAL NUMBERS OF SIGNATURES ON THE PETITIONS. 27, 910
TOTAL NUMBERS OF SIGNATARIES AT VERIFICATION. 2, 151
TOTAL NUMBERS OF SIGNATARIES VERIFIED. 2, O85.
3. IJUMU
TOTAL NUMBERS OF REGISTERED VOTERS-- 46, 810.
TOTAL NUMBERS OF SIGNATURE ON THE PETITION--- 24, 389.
TOTAL NUMBERS OF SIGNATURES AT VERIFICATION--- 2, 811.
TOTAL NUMBERS OF SIGNATURES VERIFIED.---- 2, 664.
4. YAGBA EAST
TOTAL NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS.---- 35, 329.
TOTAL NUMBERS OF SIGNATURE ON THE PETITION---- 18, 229.
TOTAL NUMBERS OF SIGNATURES AT VERIFICATION ... 3, 580.
TOTAL NUMBERS OF SIGNATURES VERIFIED.... 3, 506.
5. MOPA AMURO.
TOTAL NUMBERS OF REGISTERED VOTERS.... 18, 350
TOTAL NUMBERS OF SIGNATURES ON THE PETITION.... 9, 173.
TOTAL NUMBERS OF SIGNATURES AT VERIFICATION... 729.
TOTAL NUMBERS OF SIGNATARIES VERIFIED.... 710.
THERE WAS VIOLENCE AT MOPA TOWARDS THE END OF THE EXERCISE, WERE 6 POLIING UNIT WAS AFFECTED. A CIVIL DEFENCE OFFICER WAS BEATEN UP. THUGS WERE ALSO SAID TO HAVE THREATEN POLICE OFFICERS ON DUTY. MOPA AMURO AS 10 WARDS, 6 AS BEEN CANCELLED.
6. YAGBA WEST LGA
TOTAL NUMBERS OF REGISTERED VOTERS..... 35, 506
TOTAL NUMBERS OF SIGNATURES ON THE PETITION.... 19, 444
TOTAL NUMBERS OF SIGNATURES AT VERIFICATION... 4, 221
TOTAL NUMBERS OF SIGNATARIES VERIFIED.... 3, 729.
7. LOKOJA LGA
TOTAL NUMBERS OF REGISTERED VOTERS... 109, 105
TOTAL NUMBERS OF SIGNATURES ON THE PETITION.... 66, 266.
TOTAL NUMBERS OF SIGNATURES AT VERIFICATION.... 4, 810.
TOTAL NUMBERS OF SIGNATARIES VERIFIED... 3, 763.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday interrogated former Governor of Akwa Ibom State Godswill Akpabio over allegation of financial crimes. Daily Trust gathered that Akpabio honoured the invitation by the anti-graft agency to explain allegations of looting of the state’s funds during his tenure. Sources told our correspondent that Senator Akpabio was being interrogated late yesterday evening at the Abuja head offices of the Commission. He was spotted at the EFFC office in company of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rickey Tarfa, at about 5:20pm. Akpabio’s arrest yesterday is fallout of the petition by an Abuja-based lawyer and activist, Leo Ekpenyong, who had on June 8 this year petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari and the EFCC, calling for Senator Akpabio’s probe and accusing him of looting. The petitioner had earlier on Wednesday adopted his petition and provided more details to the anti-graft agency on the allegations against the minority leader of People...
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