In light of escalating economic challenges, many Nigerians have lodged petitions with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), calling for the recall of their councilors, State Assembly members, House of Representatives members, and Senators.
Following the concerns raised, INEC convened on Thursday and updated the protocols “for Recall of members of the National and State Assemblies and Councillors in the Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).”
INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, said in addition to reviewing the final preparations for the Edo State Governorship election holding on Saturday, the Commission also considered and approved the revised Regulations and Guidelines for Recall.
According to him, “the Commission has, in the last few weeks, received a number of requests from different groups across the country for the recall of their representatives in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly”.
He said some of them had even requested the Commission to initiate the processes of the recall on their behalf.
“For clarity, the process is initiated by the voters in a constituency. The Commission only implements their request in line with Sections 69, 110 and 160 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Sections 2(c) and 113 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
“Accordingly, the Commission has reviewed the regulations and guidelines, providing a detailed procedure for recall. The 10-page document has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for the guidance of prospective petitioners and for public information.
“We appeal to constituents interested in the recall of their elected representatives to be guided by the provisions of the regulations and guidelines in preparing and submitting their petitions to the Commission“, he stated.