For the past two years now ,Kogi state has been   an object of discussion in the news for a number of political dramas and intrigues that have played out, testing the nation’s democratic tenets and laws.

First was the death of a governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November, 2015 governorship election, Prince Abubakar Audu, who died before he was declared winner of the election

The effort to find a replacement to fill the vacant spot he left behind was another disaster on its own, and the Senate had to make a sixth amendment to the 2010 Electoral Act, to avoid any similar case in the future.

Yet again, the state is on the edge of challenging the nation’s laws and young democracy with another history that will become  landmarks and reference points.

The state governor, Yahaya Bello, and the senator representing the western constituency, Dino Melaye are in their separate battles on the verge of changing the political story, as they may each have to struggle to retain their seats.

Recently The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) accused Governor Bello of double registration as a potential voter.

The commission alleged that Bello who previously registered to vote in Abuja, in January 2011, was again registered at the Government House Lokoja, on May 23, 2017,but the governor has denied the allegation, and even said the commission may have registered someone who looks like him.

But the commission has maintained its position and also vowing to penalize its officials who carried out the exercise, which it said was illegal.

A new scene has, however, been added to the drama, as INEC sources informed that it has succeeded in retrieving a back-up Direct Data Capture (DDC) machine on what transpired between the governor and the INEC team.

He said the commission will engage experts to download data in the machine, which will reveal how the governor’s name disappeared from the voter register.

According to the source, “Those who tampered with the DDC used to register the governor have no idea that every machine has a back-up.  The CVR conducted on May 23 in Lokoja and how the governor’s name purportedly got missing will be analyse by experts .”

Section 117 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) recommends sanctions for voters who have registered more than once, being in unlawful possession of a voter card, selling or buying of voter card.

 “A fine not exceeding N100,000 or imprisonment for one year or both.” Is the punishment for such electoral offence.

The questions now are: Will INEC be able to prove a wrongdoing on the part of Bello? If it does, will Bello as a sitting governor undergo trial, or will he be shielded by the immunity clause from prosecution over such an electoral offence?

It would be a first that would test the nation’s laws, as there is no precedent to fall on.

Senator Melaye, on the other hand, is fighting to maintain his position as he is being recalled by his constituents who feel unsatisfied with his performance as a federal lawmaker. The petition for his recall was said to have been signed by 188,588 voters from electorate in the senatorial district, representing about 52.3 per cent of the district’s registered voters.

Although the senator claimed many of the signatories were forged, they were however delivered to the electoral umpire in Abuja, which not only acknowledged receipt, but has fixed a date for verification of the signatories.

 in order to halt the process , Melaye informed that he had dragged INEC to court, but had yet to give details of the relieves he is seeking from the court.

 The drama has just begun as the date for verification process has been fixed and Melaye’s suit filed, this is also its first in the political history of  Nigeria; a move to recall a lawmaker.

The questions now are: Will the court put a stop to the action geared towards Malaye’s recall? Or, will INEC follow through with the process? Also, will a constituent take advantage of the law, and actually recall a senator?

As the two separate dramas is being acted, Nigerians, and indeed, political historians are watching to see if the laws on paper will truly provide guides, in the reality of Nigeria’s democratic journey.

PUNCH