April polls: PDP, 12 others refuse to sign election Code of Conduct
Elections 2011 Tuesday, March 8th, 2011Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega has expressed concern over alleged hostility by some state governors to opposition parties in their states, especially as it concerns electioneering campaign.
He expressed his concern just as some 13 political parties, including the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) withheld their assents to the new Code of Conduct, which signing ceremony took place in Abuja yesterday Jega lamented that the widespread undemocratic actions of the governors of banning opposition parties and tearing their candidates banners and posters, if allowed to continue, portends grave danger to the success of the April general election.
“I want to say that this is unfortunate and we must do everything to prevent it. When we hear that certain governors are banning other political parties from campaigning in their states, it calls for serious concern and does not augur well for the success of our democracy and we ask for restraints and tact.
“Similarly, when we read reports about activities in certain states where banners and posters of opponents are pulled down; this is a very serious concern, which has to be addressed.
“We have also read of reports of some media not giving coverage to campaign of opposition parties; we have heard for example that some parties wanted to pay but were told that other political parties had booked for the entire period of campaign; this type of attitude will not augur well for level playing ground,” he said.
He advised the leaders of the political parties that it was necessary that “in the next few weeks remaining, we bring new attitude and mindset for the respect of rule of law and the signing of code of conduct would add value to the moral persuasion of all.”
However, there was drama when it was time for the signing of the revised Code of Conduct as some of the parties made good their threat not to sign.
Interestingly, PDP, the party at the centre of accusation of having flouted the Code of Conduct also refused to sign. Citizen Popular Party (CPP) had earlier indicated it would not sign it because “the provisions in the code had always been observed in breaches and therefore of no use to the Party,” Maxi Okwu, the national Chairman had insisted.
Apart from the two, African Renaissance Party (ARP) also refused to sign, while Labour Party (LP), which initially declined, eventually signed the document.
It was not immediately known why the PDP declined to sign, but its National Secretary, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, who represented the party confided in some of his colleagues that his party would need to study the document to ascertain that it conforms to what the parties had agreed on earlier with the INEC during its revision.
The revision of the Code of Conduct carried out by the commission and the leaders of the political parties at a retreat in Tinapa Resort, Calarbar, Cross River State Capital was meant to ensure the 63 registered political parties comply with all the rules guiding the election including compliance with the electoral laws.
Some of the party leaders caused a stir during the ceremony as the LP chairman, Chief Dan Nwayanwu and his ARP counterpart, Alhaji Yahaya Ndu described the signing as worthless given their parties experience.
Indeed, Ndu who is also the ARP’s presidential candidate referred to the document as “useless” and a waste of time, while Nwanyanwu, also condemned the document and the attitude of INEC over the indiscriminate substitution of candidates’ names in the lists submitted by political parties.
“We have studied the document and our legal department is of the opinion that we should not constitute ourselves into another body because INEC has the full responsibility to conduct elections.
“And the current Electoral Act has given INEC powers to deal with offenders, to deal with political parties that fail to conform. We signed similar document before the 2007 elections and the INEC under Prof. Maurice Iwu did not keep its side of the bargain. If you look at this document, what are the obligations of INEC? I cannot come here and sign my death warrant,” the LP boss said.
Nwanyanwu also alleged that the process of manipulating the 2011 elections had started, saying, “INEC has no business in the Electoral Act to decide who the candidate of a political party is. The law allows an aspirant to go to Court if he is aggrieved. The process has started because if a senator of the Federal Republic can talk to INEC not to include a candidate that emerged during the primaries, then something is wrong with INEC.”
Meanwhile, at the end of the ceremony, Jega explained that about 75 per cent of the political parties signed the vital documents despite initial opposition to it and urged the party leaders to ensure compliance by their party stalwart.
-Sunwp_posts
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