Kogi West stakeholders have initiated the recall of Senator Dino Melaye. Will the plot see the light of the day? Will the controversial legislator survive? Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the politics of recall in the Northcentral state.
EBULLIENT and fork-tongued politician Dino Melaye has run into trouble. The senator representing Kogi West is battling to save his seat. Many believe that he still has a chance of survival. But, at least, for now, the career of the ‘controversial’ legislator is being threatened by the move to recall him from the Senate by the people of his constituency.
His constituents are angry. They allege that he has not represented them well in the last two years. Shedding light on the protest, a leader of the recall crusade, Cornelius Olowo, said that Melaye is not accessible; he is evasive and he has not organised any town hall meeting for necessary feedback. Also, he said the senator has not attracted any project to the district. But, the embattled senator has returned the salvos. He said the petitioners were teleguided by sponsors in official quarters. He predicted failure for its architects, saying that lies have expiring date.
Melaye appears to be committed to a life of battles. Some of his struggles, particularly the subsidy demonstrations and anti-corruption crusade during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, appeared to be in national interest. However, opinion is divided on whether he is still on the side of the people since 2015 when the former House of Representatives member was elevated to the Senate.
As the Chairman of Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the vocal legislator is a big man. He is a dependable ally of Senate President Bukola Saraki. He is predictably at the centre of many controversies in the hallowed chamber. Whenever he had brawls with colleagues, he was chided for regression into street behaviours. But, a survivalist, Melaye has always survived public venom and waxed stronger in his excesses.
Remarkably, he is not been recalled, owing to his showmanship in Abuja. The crisis that has engulfed his career has a local content. Melaye is not being confronted by his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which is already used to his tirades. Those plotting his removal are chieftains of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
At home, he is perceived in the camp of Governor Yahaya Bello as a trouble maker. Also, his rival during the 2015 election, Senator Smart Adeyemi, is mounting a campaign that his victory was a product of rigging. It is also doubtful, if the aggrieved chieftain and House of Representatives member Abiodun Faleke, has forgiven him for thwarting his bid to become governor, following Prince Abubakar Audu’s death. Unlike 2015, there is division in Kogi West. More vociferous are constituents eager to draw the curtains on Melaye’s senatorial tenure.
The turn of events is worrisome to party leaders at the national level. The Melaye/Bello romance, before it turned sour, was predicated on partisan interest. The shield was offered by the national leadership. As Bello became the beneficiary of an unmerited mandate, Melaye gave him his tacit support. The goal was to pull the rug off the feet of Faleke, who was Audu’s running mate. The parley paid off for the senator. He became a kingmaker, who was given the privilege to nominate the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). Bello initially leaned on him for partisan advice. He also consulted him regularly on state matters.
Observers pointed out the faulty foundation of the friendship, which they predicted would not endure. To them, the parting of ways was a matter of time. Suddenly, Bello was weary of Melaye’s overbearing attitude. He decided to be a man of his own. But, the personality assertion has implications. Melaye’s sphere of influence reduced. A gulf developed between him and the governor he installed. Bello resisted his undue interference in state matters. The stage was set for a gig fight.
A combative Melaye picked up the gantlet. He was not afraid of fighting. It is his pastime. The battle for the control of the divided APC chapter and the government machinery began. The senator’s media propaganda against Bello has been quite effective. The campaign is successful because the governor’s performance since he assumed office. Thus, the searchlight is detrimental to his second term ambition. The governor was warned that Melaye may eventually become his albatross. Therefore, he decided to strategically put the heat on him. The senator has made some enemies because of his style. His adversaries see the recall as a prelude to career liquidation. This may be the outlook of politics of recall in the Northcentral state.
Since the Second Republic, when Nigeria opted for presidential democracy, no lawmaker has been recalled. Efforts to recall recalcitrant federal lawmakers often hit the rock because of constitutional impediments. Although the 1999 Constitution gives room for recall, the document also makes recall difficult, if not impossible.
Lawyers, rights’ activists and politicians are unanimous that recall is herculean. A lawyer, Tolu Babaleye, a former member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, said it is easier for the camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a senator to be recalled from the National Assembly. He expressed reservations on the move to recall Melaye.
The recall of a senator is a joint responsibility. Apart from the constituents, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Senate President have roles to play.
According to Section 69 of the amended constitution, there are 10 steps to a recall. The first critical step is that more than half of the registered voters in the senatorial district must write, sign and send a petition to the INEC Chairman, alleging their loss of confidence in the senator.
Besides, the petitions must be signed and arranged according to polling units, wards, local governments, and constituencies in the district.
When the petition is received by the INEC, the commission will notify the senator, stating that it has received a petition for his or her recall, if the petition is valid. Thus, the INEC reserves the right to determine a valid petition.
Consequently, the agency will issue a public notice or announcement stating the date, time and location of the verification of signatures of the petition.
Also, INEC will verify the signatures to the petitions at the designated polling units. Indeed, the signatories must be individuals who appear on the voter register.
The commission will conduct a referendum, if more than half of the signatories are verified. However, INEC will write to the petitioners stating that the minimum requirements for a referendum were not met, if the number verified is less than one half of registered voters in that constituency or district. The petition will therefore, be dismissed.
There is a time frame. The onus is on INEC to conduct a referendum within 90 days of the receipt of the petition, if the minimum requirements for a referendum are met. The referendum will be a simple yes or no vote on whether the senator should be recalled, and it will be decided by simple majority votes of registered voters in the district.
If the majority of voters in the district says ‘yes,’ the INEC chairman will send a Certificate of Recall to the Senate President to effect the recall.
The Senate President will ask the affected senator to vacate the Senate, after showing him the recall certificate.
Noting that the procedures are long and cumbersome, Babaleye said the processes are discouraging. He posed some questions: for how long will it take INEC to verify over 188,000 signatures? If any of the signatures is irregular, will it not be treated as a forged document? How were the signatures collected so far? Were Melaye’s agents present? Were card readers used during the process? How will illiterate petitioners sign the petition?
Two days ago, INEC received no fewer than 188,588 signatures from Kogi West voters. The petitioners were spread cross Yagba West and East, Lokoja, Kogi, Ijumu, Mopa/Moro and Kabba/Bunu. Thus, an important requirement has been fulfilled. But, there are still some hurdles to cross.
Melaye said he is not afraid. He hopes to survive as he did during the alleged certificate scandal. The governor is to blame for his ordeal, he said. He faulted the signature collation, saying that it is a comedy of errors. Melaye the signatures were forged, adding that the approach was consistent with the mindset of a governor who does not know the import of double registration. The senator hinted that he may go to court, warning that some appointees of the governor may go to jail. His recall, he said, will not solve the problem of non-payment of salaries in Kogi for 15 months.
As INEC acknowledged the receipt of the petition yesterday and set a date for the verification of the signatures, Melaye is not likely to fold his arms and take chances.
What happens to the recall enterprise, if Bello and Melaye reconcile? If party leaders broker truce between the warring camps in Kogi APC, will the process continue? Will the recall project scale through? Will Melaye survive? Time will tell.
