IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR RECALLING SENATORS AND REPS!

We at CUPS have been inundated by Nigerians from all parts of the country, who want to recall their Senators and Reps. We are privileged and honoured to be the pioneers of this democratic movement of making our Senators and Reps not only accountable for their actions, but also making them show respect to us the electorate masses, who put them in the office in the first place.

We have posted at the “Democracy in Action” Facebook page the legal/constitutional process of recalling Senators and Reps. It is important that our people at grassroots level read this document. It is also important that they organise themselves into lawful bodies before they embark on this struggle. This is partly because these Senators and Reps who are targeted for recall are likely going to fight back. When they do, it helps that they discover they are up against a well organised grassroots democratic process.

To this end, we suggest the following points/steps, which are immensely useful for efficient management of your recall process and also for transparency:

1. Before you initiate a recall process on any Senator or member of Reps, make sure that you have in place a representative Civil Society Organisation (CSO), whose activities among others include espousing for good governance. If you don't have such organisation, you need to create one ASAP. You don't have to come all the way to Abuja to do this. You can register your CSO at the Corporate Affairs Commission office in your state capital. The last time we did this for CUPS in Kano, the fee was just N7,000, and it was done for us there and then.

2. You need to open a bank account in the name of your CSO. This is very important. Try opening the account with one of these modern banks that have online banking facilities. This allows for ease of access, management, transparency, and accountability. Every recall process will eventually need money for paying the lawyers and other errands. If you cannot raise this money locally, we at CUPS are happy to make an appeal on your behalf. However, we cannot help you unless you are properly registered and have a bank account in your organisation's name.

3. Using your organisation as a platform, conduct several consultation meetings with community leaders and stakeholders. Organise brainstorming sessions to decide whether it is really necessary to recall your Senator or Rep. Allow the knowledgeable folks among you to take the lead and manage your affairs. You must not allow personal grudges, envy, and score-settling to be the deciding factor in your decision making process. You cannot fight tyranny with tyranny. Your community's best interest must be the final deciding factor.

4. Don't just start collecting signatures without formally informing the targeted Senator or Rep as to why you think they should be recalled. Clearly outline the offences you think they committed in your complaint letter. Give them at least two weeks to respond. Send a copy to INEC and CUPS. We are happy to screen your complaint letter and advise you accordingly. It might be the case that your Senator or Rep may not need a recall at all. It is important for your struggle to be seen by all as transparent, fair, and just. You risk being accused of witch-hunting if you miss this step.

5. Make sure that you know the correct format of how to collect the voters' signatures for the recall. You are required by law to collect the full names, addresses, signatures, PVC numbers or Codes of the signatories. This must be verified by INEC against their master register before it is accepted as valid.

Finally, we wish all those wishing to recall their erring Senators and Reps the very best of luck! For once in our history, the common man is being taught how to use democratic instruments to hold elected officials to account. This is the new Nigeria that we have been yearning for. In few years time from now, even primary school children will be taught in Social Studies how to recall Senators and Reps. Glory be to God. Change is here to stay! Join us at the "Democracy in Action" Facebook page for more updates.

May God save Nigeria  and Nigerians. Amen

Dr. Idris Ahmed.
CUPS.
15/10/2015.