The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to immediately vacate his office for “harrying and misleading” the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) into arriving at “an unconstitutional decision” to allow the APC to substitute its candidate in the inconclusive Kogi state governorship election.
“The party is shocked that INEC, a supposedly independent electoral umpire, could allow itself to succumb to the antics of the APC by following the unlawful directive of an obviously partisan AGF to substitute a candidate in the middle of the ballot process,” said a statement signed by the PDP spokesperson, Olisa Metuh.
“We are all aware that the two legal documents guiding INEC in the conduct of elections; the Constitution and the Electoral Act, have provisions for electoral exigencies as well as empower the electoral body to fully take responsibility for any of its actions or inaction without undue interference from any quarters whatsoever.
“We are therefore at a loss as to which sections of these two relevant laws, INEC and the AGF relied on in arriving at their bizarre decision to substitute a dead candidate in an on-going election even after the timelines for such has elapsed under all the rules.”
The PDP said INEC as a statutory body has the full complements of technical hands in its legal department to advice it appropriately and we wonder why it had to wait for directives from the AGF, an external party, if not for partisan and subjective interest.
“Consequently, the PDP rejects in its entirety, this brazen move by the APC and INEC to circumvent the laws and ambush the yet-to-be concluded election by introducing a practice that is completely alien to the constitution and the electoral act.
“The clear implication of this action of the AGF and INEC is that the APC would be fielding two different governorship candidates in the ongoing Kogi election, meaning that INEC would be transferring votes cast for late Abubakar Audu to another candidate, scenarios that have no place in the constitution of the land.
“Whereas the PDP, in honour of the sanctity of human life and respect for the dead, had since Sunday refrained from making comments on the conduct of the election, we can no longer maintain such in the face of the barefaced attack on our democracy,” the party.
The party said the INEC under the leadership of Mahmood Yakubu has shown itself as partisan, morally bankrupt and obviously incapable of conducting a credible election within our laws.
“In view of the foregoing therefore, the PDP demands an immediate resignation of the INEC chairman, as the nation’s democracy cannot afford to be left in the hands of an electoral umpire that cannot exert its independence and the sanctity of the electoral process,” the PDP said.
In view of the developments, the National Working Committee of the PDP summoned an emergency National Caucus meeting on Wednesday to take a decision “on this obvious threat to our democracy”. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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This man metuh lacks decency. His approach lacks organization and civility. He must know that one does not succeed in this type of assignment by making everybody his enemy. You abuse inec, judiciary, everybody that crosses your path.what a man. Somebody should educate him on how to play in the opposition. He lies on everybody, sees everything that does nit exist. What type of human being is this? No wonder pdp could not make it . Wuth this type of man at the helm of affair if any organization, success if far. Pity!
ReplyDeleteAGF is a political officer while INEC is an independent organ devoid of political interference, INEC has its own legal team that should advice her on legal matters and not the AGF, AGF is the minister of justice which makes it a political tool and is not in any position to advise INEC on what to do.
DeleteMy dear, the earlier we waive sentiments aside, the better for us. Metuhis right after all.
Mr Adebayo, try and think it through. These vituperations of yours have no basis in fact, nor are they nearly logical.
DeleteThis man metuh lacks decency. His approach lacks organization and civility. He must know that one does not succeed in this type of assignment by making everybody his enemy. You abuse inec, judiciary, everybody that crosses your path.what a man. Somebody should educate him on how to play in the opposition. He lies on everybody, sees everything that does nit exist. What type of human being is this? No wonder pdp could not make it . Wuth this type of man at the helm of affair if any organization, success if far. Pity!
ReplyDeleteNdi Ara. Mad People.
ReplyDeleteNa una de kolo ohhhh
DeleteMethu, you are just making issue out of no issue, I believed Olisa methu/PDP caucus like things being complicated, AGF has just resolved an electoral /constitutional riddles that has being in the wave since the sad incident happened. PDP would have preferred a long debate to enable them re-strategies as usual in order to rig the election again, no room for such any more. How else would you have preferred INEC to resolve the matter, start the election all over again or declare your candidate the winner or continue the election with a dead candidate or what? Olisa Methu you are such a blocked headed frustrated man with no experience of an opposition. I bet your party when in Government would have declared that election completely won rather than inconclusive knowing fully well that PDP is taking the lead. AGF is saddled with the responsibility to guide and intervene in such kind of issues after due consultation. Nigeria must move forward, my advice for you: why don't you gather yourself together and call those your Biafra boys to order instead of tormenting trouble all over the eastern part of Nigeria calling for an obsolete matter. Biafra is as good as dead, where were all these people when the war was on, those whom have once witness war would never call for such again in their entire life.
ReplyDeleteAGF is a political officer while INEC is an independent organ devoid of political interference, INEC has its own legal team that should advice her on legal matters and not the AGF, AGF is the minister of justice which makes it a political tool and is not in any position to advise INEC on what to do.
DeleteMy dear, the earlier we waive sentiments aside, the better for us. Metuhis right after all.
Idiot...instead of u to tackle d subject matter,u are here talking about Biafra...how does Biafra connect to dis issue...u are trying to link PDP with Biafra,dat means we can comfortably link APC to bokoharam....dumb head...
DeleteAnonymous man, its time to use your brains - assuming you have any.
DeleteThis is madness, why leave the running mate to conduct another primary in the middle of the election? This is pure crap
ReplyDeleteMetuh is very right! I'm completely frightened by the lack of independence of INEC!
ReplyDeleteHow is Metuh right. The running mate was hand picked and did not emerge by convention as stipulated by the law. PDP will defenately take legal advantage of such. Had it been Audu as been declared the winner, then the running mate could be said to have been elected and at such, could step in. What the AGF said is not partisan in anyway. Moreso, it's now that the PDP is no longer in power that the AGF is partisan. I laugh.
ReplyDeleteNOOOO Metuh is completely out of order.
ReplyDeleteIts unfortunate AGF is so politically biased to be blinded to reality of his profession. Yaradua's AGF tried manipulating the country, now Abubakar Malami???
ReplyDeleteIf Metuh is wrong why did the tribunal presiding for Taraba state declared APC winner instead of calling for another election and ask PDP to conduct fresh primary.
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ReplyDelete