Dino Melaye: INEC asks court to vacate order stopping Senator’s recall

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Thursday approached an Abuja Federal High Court to set aside an earlier order suspending the recall of Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye.
Recall that the nation’s electorial umpire had commenced the recall of the lawmaker, following receipt of petition from members of his constituency.

Melaye then filed a suit before the court seeking an order stopping INEC from going ahead with the process.
In the suit which was argued by his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), the lawmaker said the signatories in the petition were fake, fictitious and concocted.
Ruling on the matter, Justice John Tsoho ordered that the “status quo” be maintained by all parties pending the determination of the matter.

Justice Tsoho also adjourned the matter till September 29.
However, INEC applied that the matter be heard by a vacation judge.
During today’s hearing, counsel to INEC, Sulayman Ibrahim, told the court of an application seeking to set aside the ex-parte order made by the court on July 6, which asked parties to maintain the status quo in the matter.

Ibrahim also informed the court about another application, seeking accelerated hearing of the matter during vacation.
INEC, in the application seeking the vacation of the ex-parte order, argued that the order violated its right to fair hearing as enshrined in Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.