Why Dino Melaye's Recall Failed - INEC

The recall election for senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West Senatorial District has failed due to low turnout of registered petitioners.

This was made known on Sunday when Professor Ukertor Gabriel Moti, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) returning officer announced the outcome of the recall.

 According to him, only five percent of the petitioners turned out in an exercise that required 51 percent majority to succeed. 

"The information on verification of signatures to the petition for the recall of Senator Dino David Melaye of Kogi West Senatorial District has taken place on this day, 28th day of April 2018, and that the verified signatures is 5.34% of the total number of registered voters in the constituency and has therefore not satisfied a requirement of the law for a referendum," he said.

The result showed that the constituency has decided to keep Dino Melaye as its senator despite his controversial style and ongoing political ordeal which includes criminal investigation by the police.

Below is the breakdown of the result:

KOTON KARFE LGA
Total Numbers Of Registered Voters – 46,727.
Total Numbers Of Signatures On The Petitions – 24,459.
Total Numbers Of Signatures At Verification – 2,566.
Total Numbers Of Signatures Verified – 2, 335.
KABBA BUNU LGA
Total Numbers Of Registered Voters – 59,319
Total Numbers Of Signatures On The Petitions – 27,910
Total Numbers Of Signatories At Verification – 2,151
Total Numbers Of Signatures Verified – 2,085.
IJUMU
Total Numbers Of Registered Voters – 46,810.
Total Numbers Of Signature On The Petition – 24,389.
Total Numbers Of Signatures At Verification – 2,811.
Total Numbers Of Signatures Verified – 2,664.
YAGBA EAST
Total Number Of Registered Voters – 35,329.
Total Numbers Of Signature On The Petition – 18,229.
Total Numbers Of Signatures At Verification – 3,580.
Total Numbers Of Signatures Verified – 3,506.
MOPA AMURO
Total Numbers Of Registered Voters – 18, 350
Total Numbers Of Signatures On The Petition – 9,173.
Total Numbers Of Signatures At Verification – 729.
Total Numbers Of Signatures Verified – 710.
There was violence in Mopa Amuro towards the end of the exercise. Six polling units were reportedly affected. As a result, the exercise in six out of the 10 wards in the LGA were cancelled.
YAGBA WEST LGA
Total Numbers Of Registered Voters – 35,506
Total Numbers Of Signatures On The Petition – 19,444
Total Numbers Of Signatures At Verification – 4,221
Total Numbers Of Signatures Verified – 3,729.
LOKOJA LGA
Total Numbers Of Registered Voters – 109,105
Total Numbers Of Signatures On The Petition – 66,266.
Total Numbers Of Signatures At Verification – 4,810.
Total Numbers Of Signatures Verified – 3,763