Sixteen candidates for the governorship election in Bayelsa State have threatened to boycott the poll if the Independent National Electoral Commission recognises any Peoples Democratic Party candidate without waiting for a court judgment.
The candidates, in a letter to INEC’s Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, noted that the commission was right in its decision to withdraw the name of PDP’s candidates in the list of governorship candidates it published on January 12.
The candidates, under the aegis of the Committee of Bayelsa State Governorship Candidates 2012, said INEC, by its decision, had demonstrated its impartiality in the electoral process.
The letter signed by the Chairman of the group, Chief Kenneth Gbalikuma, and Secretary, Chief Johnson Opuzi, was made available to our correspondent in Yenagoa on Tuesday.
The group maintained that INEC remained the final authority besides the court on electoral matter and urged the commission to resist pressure from the leadership of the PDP.
The group said, “INEC should strongly guard against being cajoled, forced or pressured by any party, group of individuals or interest groups to foist a candidate on it by the PDP that had not been so cleared by the court.
“If for any reason other than the court’s decision which we shall all accept as law-abiding citizens, we will use any legitimate means, including boycotting the elections and taking the matter to the court to stop INEC from conducting the Bayelsa State governorship election.”
Similarly, the state Governor, Mr. Timipre Sylva, condemned the verbal attacks directed at INEC by the PDP since the commission published the list.
Sylva, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Doifie Ola, said such attacks were aimed at forcing INEC to rescind its decision, which he said was in line with the rule of law.
He said, “INEC did the right and lawful thing by acknowledging that the issue of PDP governorship candidate in Bayelsa State for the February 11, 2012 election is a subject of inconclusive litigation.”
Sylva said he was not surprised at the attack on INEC, adding that the “PDP has lately been noted for its lawlessness.”
He, however, cautioned “the party against doing anything to endanger the democratic process in order for a few powerful elements to have their way by all means, fair or foul.”
Sylva said, “PDP leadership should allow INEC to follow the law, instead of putting pressure on the commission and trying to arm-twist it to change its lawful democratic position.”
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that will be goodluck to Goodluck's annointed
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