INEC Issues New Guidelines For Recall Of Elected Officials

INEC Issues New Guidelines For Recall Of Elected Officials

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday, September 19, released new guidelines and regulations for the recall of elected office holders both at the state and federal levels.

National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun who disclosed this in a statement said the guidelines and regulations were approved at the Commission’s meeting on Thursday.

The statement reads: “The Commission met today, Thursday 19th September 2024. In addition to reviewing the final preparations for the Edo State Governorship election holding on Saturday 21st September 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 (FCT).

“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. Some of them have even requested the Commission to initiate the process 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 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”.

The guidelines and regulations contained in a ten-page document require those who want to recall their elected representatives to first submit a petition to the Chairman of the commission.

The petition which should contain reasons for such request is to be signed by one person above half of the registered voters (must be more than half) in the constituency of the person whose recall is being sought.

On receipt of the petition, the Commission is to verify the signatories on the petition to ensure that they are registered voters in the constituency, before conducting a referendum for the recall.