As Senator Dino Melaye recuperates at the Zanklin Hospital, Mabushi, Abuja, after he allegedly jumped off a moving police van at Area One Roundabout, Garki, in an attempt to prevent the police from taking him to Kogi State for trial, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will commence the verification of signatures of those seeking his recall on April 28.
The commission’s federal commissioner, Mohammed Haruna, made the disclosure at a stakeholders meeting today in Lokoja, Kogi State capital.
He explained that the verification exercise would hold in 552 polling units in seven local governments under Kogi West senatorial district.
He further said the exercise will hold from 8 am to 2 pm using the card reading machines to authenticate the voter cards of those that signed the recall petition.
“Only those who signed the petition are expected to turn up at their polling units for verification,” Haruna said.
Also speaking, the INEC resident electoral commissioner of the state, MR. James Apam, said that local observers would be allowed to monitor the exercise.
However, he said the verification will not hold in eight polling units as no petition was received from them.
Apam also said no party agents would be allowed access to any of the polling units, adding that the result of the exercise will be announced on April 29.
“We have concluded all arrangements in line with our schedule of activities and are set for the exercise.
“The ad hoc staff have been trained at the state and local government levels and materials procured and sent to the registration area centres ready for movement to the polling units on the day of verification,” he added.