The Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) has reacted to the nullification of the Bayelsa
State governorship election, stating that it may respond to some of the issues
raised by the Election Tribunal, NAN reports.
Recall that the
Bayelsa State Gubernatorial Petition Tribunal has sacked Bayelsa Governor,
Duoye Diri.
His election was nullified based
on a petition by the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP) which argued that
it was unlawfully excluded from participating in the election.
Reacting, the INEC National
Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr.
Festus Okoye, on Monday, said it may respond to some of the issues raised by
the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal when it is availed of
the full judgment of the case.
Okoye said that the Advanced
Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP) nomination for the election was invalid while
the party did not exercise its right guaranteed in the Fourth Alteration to the
constitution by filing its suit within 14 days of the accrual of the said
right.
He also said that ANDP was one of
the political parties that signified its intention to contest the Nov. 16, 2019
Bayelsa governorship election.
According to him, the party
conducted party primaries and submitted the name of one Peter David as its
Deputy Governorship candidate.
“As at the time of the submission
of the name of the said candidate, he was 34 years old, contrary to Section
177(b) of the constitution that makes it mandatory for a candidate for such
office to attain the age of 35 years to be eligible to contest the election.
“In the candidate’s statutory
declaration of age and affidavit attached to his form, the party stated that he
was born on Feb. 10, 1985.
“On Sept. 13, 2019, the
commission wrote to the party drawing their attention to the constitutional age
requirement of 35 years for Governorship/Deputy Governorship candidates as
stipulated in Section 177(b) of the constitution.
“The commission also informed
them of the invalidity of their nomination for the Nov. 16, 2019 governorship
election in Bayelsa State.
“On Sept. 27, 2019, the
commission informed the party that the deadline for the submission of
nominations as provided for in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities
released by the commission on May 16, 2019 was Sept. 9, 2019.
“The commission also informed the
party that since they did not submit valid nomination, they couldn’t validly
substitute any candidate.
“Consequently the name and logo
of the party did not appear and was not reflected in the ballot paper.
“It is pertinent to note that the
party did not exercise its right guaranteed in the Fourth Alteration to the
constitution by filing its suit within 14 days of the accrual of the said right
as the issues canvassed are pre-election issues.
“However, the commission may
respond to some of the issues raised in the judgment of the tribunal when we
are availed of the full judgement and the reasons for the judgement,” Okoye
said.
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