Tenure extension: PDP expresses concern over INEC’s decision to appeal judgment

Posted by admin INEC Politics Tuesday, March 1st, 2011

The Peoples Democratic Party National Working Committee (PDP NWC) has frowned at the position of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to appeal against the judgment of the Abuja High Court.
In the judgment delivered last week, Justice Adamu Bello had excluded Bayelsa, Kogi, Adamawa, Sokoto, Delta and Kogi as states where gubernatorial election would not hold this year.

INEC has since vowed to appeal against the ruling. But the PDP NWC through the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Professor Rufai Alkali yesterday expressed concern over the position of INEC, dismissing the electoral body as biased.
The party also wondered why INEC did not show interest in previous litigations in which judgment was not given in favour of the PDP.
The statement signed by Alkali reads: “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has noted the decision by the Independent National

Electoral Commission (INEC) to appeal the judgment of the Abuja High Court on tenure of Governors in five States with deep concern.
“As participants in all electoral programmes organised by INEC, we have always refrained from engaging the electoral umpire in any open confrontation. Rather, we have always explored available channels of communication with them to express our concerns on all issues.

“However, we are constrained to register our displeasure with statements by some high ranking officials of INEC on the decision to appeal against this ruling. As umpires in the electoral process, we expect them to demonstrate neutrality and fairness to all. A situation where the electoral umpire becomes an obviously interested party in a dispute involving several other players does not augur well for the integrity of the electoral process…
“The question on the lips of all discerning observers today is on whose behalf is INEC appealing? Or what injuries do they stand to suffer from this ruling?
We advise INEC to avoid actions that will portray them as biased and withdraw its decision to appeal this judgment immediately in the interest of our democracy.’’

-Sunwp_posts