Members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the Western Senatorial District of Kogi State have resolved to institute a legal action against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over alleged malpractices that manifested during the recently concluded failed recall of Senator Dino Melaye.
Rising from a special meeting held in Kabba, the Kogi West PDP, in a communique issued on Tuesday by the Senatorial Chairman, Barrister Taiwo Kola-Ojo, said the legal action was sequel to the complaints of many of its members that though they never at any time signed the petition against Senator Dino Melaye, they were shocked to discover that their data and signatures were diplayed during the verification exercise.
The party expressed fears that “the manipulations inherent in the exercise sign-post a pilot scheme for perfecting rigging during the impending general elections in the country”.
He added that its members have demanded for the criminal prosecution of all those involved in signature forgery and in the presentation of deceased persons as sponsors of the recall.
The communique said it was worrisome that “INEC could not see through the criminal manipulations in voters’ data during the exercise”, adding that the commission must be prepared to “defend its negligence of duty, conspiracy and wasteful application of public fund.”
The party said its action was not partisan but prompted by public good as its members believed that “the prosecution of vote criminals and their collaborators will deter future occurrence and prevent wasteful expenditure of public resources.”
