The weirdest photograph you are likely to see on the internet this week is that of six officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) standing outside the national assembly office of Senator Dino Melaye.
Before them are four Ghana-Must-Go bags and a bundle of papers; pressed against the door of Melaye’s office. The electoral officials have their hands clasped in resignation. Some are seen pacing the corridor to ease off the tension.
But there was no Melaye in sight. The Senator who represents Kogi West in Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber, wasn’t there to receive his visitors because they were ‘unwanted’ guests. How he hates the very sight of them!
Melaye has been doing everything legally and illegally possible to halt his recall process kicked off by his own constituents in June of 2017.
Melaye has been no one’s idea of a role model lawmaker. His source of wealth remains as questionable as his school certificate and he’s the chief noisemaker in a parliament laden with noisome and unproductive lawmakers.
He’s unabashedly loud and unapologetic about his brash mannerisms.
When the people of Kogi West commenced moves to recall Melaye, the senator secured an injunction to halt INEC from proceeding with the process. The courts did the needful and left the recall on ice.
On September 11, 2017, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court ruled that the recall process can continue after a one month hiatus–thanks to Melaye’s antics and lawyers.
The Judge also ruled that Melaye be handed the recall petition, schedule of signatures attached to the petition and the list of persons who want the senator recalled, within two weeks.
That’s why INEC officials showed up outside Melaye’s office with all the Ghana-Must-Go bags they could find in Abuja.
However, Melaye now says he can’t receive the petition because the period for that kind of reception—as stipulated in section 69 of the 1999 constitution–has since elapsed. So, he runs and runs and runs. And avoids his office each time he hears that INEC officials are in the building.
Melaye is playing a game of smarts, but he’s playing it so badly by showing his hand so blatantly.
It’s too late now. Melaye may actually not be recalled and it’s very likely that this recall process will collapse like a pack of cards because all those who purportedly signed all of those signatures may not show up for verification.
It’s also possible that a chunk of the signatures on the recall petitions were forged.
But in the name of all that is decent in the world, Melaye should stop dodging INEC and those Ghana-Must-Go bags outside his office. He should pick his bags up like the big boy he is, because those bags are his for now—to love and to hold.
And then, the senator should allow the laws of the land take it from here.
– Jude Egbas
