PDP Faults Removal Of Dickson’s Name From Bayelsa Polls List

[TGD]

 THE Acting Chairman of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) Abubakar Baraje is furious with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the removal of the name of its candidate  Henry Dickson from the governorship elections scheduled for next month in Bayelsa State.

According to Baraje, the act was wrong and against the wish of the ruling party.

Speaking with State House correspondents yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Baraje said the Electoral Law forbids anybody, including INEC to have a say in the election processes of any political party,including the primaries.

He submitted that Section 33 of the Electoral Act is very clear  on the issue ."So, we have pointed that out to INEC that we have done our primaries and this is to the knowledge of INEC. We have come out successfully with our candidate, we have made the necessary submissions and INEC acknowledged our submissions that time. So, for them to have said that we are in court, therefore, they will not include our candidate is against the law.

"INEC has no authority to do so and we have pointed that out and we are working together. I am sure, it will be corrected very, very soon," Baraje added.

Asked if the PDP intends to go to Court if INEC insists, Baraje said: "I told you what we have done. It does not have to get to court. INEC will correct it very soon, INEC is headed by a very law abiding citizen. Prof. Jega Is a very articulate and law abiding citizen, a due process man and so he will look at law as we pointed it out to him and he will correct it. We do not have to go to court".

On the court case arising out of the primaries, the PDP Acting chairman said "That case has no bearing with what is on the ground now. It has no bearing at all. And even if there is a case in court, it does not stop any process. There is no judgment yet. Or is there any judgment?"

INEC had on Thursday released a list of 35 qualified candidates and 36 political parties for the polls, but missing on the list of the candidates was that of the PDP. According to INEC, it took the

decision because the subject of the PDP candidate for the governorship election was under litigation.

Incumbent governor, Timipre Sylva had gone to court seeking an injunction to stop the PDP from presenting Dickson as the party's governorship candidate, insisting he is the rightful candidate

for the election, having won the first primary organised by the party.



The Guardian