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AUGUSTA — An independent lawmaker is trying for a second time to oust Gov. Paul LePage from office, this time through a provision that allows Secretary of State Matt Dunlap to launch a removal effort.

Rep. Jeffrey Evangelos of Friendship, who co-sponsored a failed attempt to impeach LePage in January, has asked Dunlap to invoke a provision in the Maine Constitution — Article 5, Section 15 — that is designed to remove a governor in extreme circumstances when it is believed the governor is unable to fulfill his or her official duties. The process has never been used.

Evangelos has invited members of the Legislature to sign on to his request, which questions LePage’s “mental competency.”

In his formal call for Dunlap to invoke Article 5, Section 15, Evangelos accuses LePage of having mental health problems and “possible” substance abuse problems “that prevent [him] from undertaking his duties as prescribed in his oath of office.”

LePage has forcefully denied having a mental illness or substance abuse problem.

This push by Evangelos, who is not seeking re-election, comes as a Democrat-led effort to convene a special session in order to discipline LePage for recent controversial comments has all but fizzled. Democratic House Speaker Mark Eves called for a vote on the issue on Friday, but Republicans in the House and Senate have said they won’t participate. A majority of legislators in both parties must agree to a special session.

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Dunlap declined to comment to the Bangor Daily News last week on the latest controversy or whether he is considering invoking Article 5. LePage’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday morning, though the governor has said publicly he is trying to put the controversy behind him and won’t talk about it any more.

The process invoked by Evangelos requires the secretary of state to make an argument to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, followed by a majority vote of the justices in favor of removing a governor until he or she is deemed fit to return to office.

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