Kogi Recall: Dino Melaye Offered Bribes To 2 INEC Officials, Says Group

A pro-democracy group, Conscience Nigeriana, has accused the embattled Mr. Dino Melaye of attempting to bribe two officials of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) with plots of land in an attempt to stave off his recall from Senate, where he is representing Kogi West Senatorial District.

The group’s allegation was contained in a statement signed on its behalf by Mr. George Solomon. The statement said Mr. Melaye, after initially boasting that his constituents would not sign up for his recall, has been jolted that 188,000 signed the petition. This figure, noted Conscience Nigeriana, is higher than the number of votes in the 2015 Kogi West Senatorial election.

The group claimed that it was Mr. Melaye’s realization that his days in the Senate are almost over that made him forge a document claiming that leaders of the Okun zone of Kogi State are opposed to his recall. Among the leaders named by Mr. Melaye were Professor Eyitayo Lambo, former Health Minister, and Chief Bayo Ojo, former Attorney-General of the Federation.

Mr. Melaye’s latest move, according to Conscience Nigeriana, was a meeting with two INEC officials in the last 48 hours to seek their assistance. The officials, said the group, are Mr. Mohammed A.T., Director of Operations, and Mr. Paul Ayize, Deputy Director, Voter Registry. Mr. Melaye was said to have promised to give them plots of land in Abuja if they could help save him from being recalled.

The group warned INEC officials to give Mr. Melaye a wide berth before he lands them in trouble. It wondered why Mr. Melaye is fretting after boasting that signatures demanding his recall were forged, saying it will continue to monitor any action aimed at muffling the voice of the people of Kogi West, who have made it clear they no longer want Mr. Melaye in the Senate.

“Kogi West is united for this historic task. Senators and other representatives of the people will begin to know that they cannot continue to disgrace their constituents like Dino has been doing. Dino must come home. Enough of his rape threat,” said Conscience Nigeriana.