State, Federal Lawmakers In ‘Trouble’ As INEC Unveils New Guidelines For Recall

New guidelines and regulations for the recall of federal and state lawmakers were released on Thursday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun made the announcement during a meeting.

It is understood that this was a response to plenty requests from constituents seeking to initiate recalls of their representatives in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly.

According to INEC, some groups called on electoral umpire to commence the recall process on their behalf.

“The commission met today, Thursday, September 19, 2024. In addition to reviewing the final preparations for the Edo State governorship election holding on Saturday September 21, 2024, the commission also considered and approved the revised Regulations and Guidelines for the Recall of members of the National and State Assemblies and Councillors in the Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory.

“The commission has, in the last few weeks, received several requests from different groups across the country for the recall of their representatives in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly. Some of them have even requested the Commission to initiate the process of the recall on their behalf,” he noted.

He stressed that voters themselves are the people who would initiate the recall process.

“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,” he clarified.

The process of constituents wishing to recall their lawmakers, according to the 10-page new guidelines, involves them submitting a petition to the INEC Chairman.