Based on the information gathered directly from all Polling Units in Kogi West, the recall exercise of Senator Dino Melaye is a total failure and thus outright waste of taxpayers resources.
Almost all Polling Units (PU) were boycotted in the verification exercise. As at the time of filing in this report, less than one hour to the end of the verification exercise, record obtained from all Polling Units visited reveal that total electorate confirmed to have been verified in the total Polling Units visited is just a little above 100 signatures. And some of those that came for the verification only went to the Polling Units to confirm the allegations that the so called signatures of petitioners were forged; and some did not see their signature on the list while some actually confirmed that their signatures were forged as they were never part of those asking for the recall of the Senator.
While most Polling Units were completely deserted only few recorded turn out and very low turn out indeed. The following are the figures obtained from few Polling Units that people turned out.
In Lokoja Club, 875 were said to have signed the recall form, but only 2 showed up and they both alleged that their names are on the list, but they were never part of any recall exercise, so their signatures were forged.
At Paparanda Square, the electorates that turned out didn't see their names on the list, so they recorded zero verification.
In Ukwo Okoriko, Ward A, unit 003, Kogi Koton Karfe Local Government only 18 turned out from the 440 electorates alleged to have signed the recall form.
At the Ohogabi Polling Unit, 43 electorates showed up out of the 500 petitioners.
While in Banda, Lokoja Local Government; out of the 512 alleged to have signed petitioners only 40 verified their signatures.
While in all Polling Units visited in Kabba/Bunu, Ijumu, Yagba East LGA as well as Mopa, electorate completely deserted the verification centres as at the time correspondents visited the centres.
Youth Corps members used for the exercise appeared to have been paid only to sit down operating their mobile phones while some rested their heads on their table to have a quick nap after their mobile phone battery/power bank ran down. This can only be described as exercise in futility.
There was drama in Bolorunduro/Odo-Akete Ward in Kabba as one Mr. John Smith Mejabi raised alarm that his name appeared on the recall list as No 443 and ticked with pen and his signature forged "on the INEC verification for the ongoing fraudulent recall of senator Dino Melaye."
Some boys believed to be APC boys attempted to intimidate him, but he insisted that, "for the records, I was never involved in this fraudulent signing last year." Thus, he said he will not allow such fraud go on, adding that he will surely take legal action against INEC and all collaborators.
In a similar development, two other people in Fehinti around St. Joseph Primary School, Kabba also alleged to have seen their names and signatures on the recall list, yet they never knew anything about it
Also at Lokoja Club, Ward A, PU 016, one Mr Samuel Olukotun said that he saw the name and forged signature of his wife, Mrs. Feyisayo Olukotun, on the recall list despite that she was not part of any recall process. Hence, he vowed "to sue the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)" for the forgery.
INEC said that the result of the verification exercise will be announced tomorrow Sunday, 29th April, 2018 and further action will be decided.
Source: Arise News247
No comments:
Post a Comment