Labour Party candidates drag INEC to Court
By Hector Spiff
By Hector Spiff
The Candidates of the Labour Party in Akulga/ Asalga
Federal and State Constituencies in Rivers State have registered their
disenchantment and disapproval over what they termed “ostrich game” played by
the Independent National Electoral Commission pertaining to the conduct of the
recent Rerun polls (Federal and State Houses of Assembly) in Rivers State.
In a statement signed by Douglas Dodiyi – Manuel
(Candidate, Akulga/Asalga Federal Constituency), Ted Dagogo Princewill
(Candidate, House of Assemble ASALGA Constituency 1) and Saturday Dabotubo
Ngoji (Candidate, House of Assemble ASALGA Constituency 2) said “INEC appeared
to have deliberately covered its head in the shameful and dirty political sand
and consequently neglected or refused to perform its duties without fear or
favour. Rather, INEC finds it convenient to call for a fresh re-run each time
the elections are marred by violence and killings instead of wielding the big
sick against the known perpetrators of violence and anarchy so as to move the
State forward and improve our electoral culture and expectations.”
Continuing, the candidates said “it is disheartening that
INEC has failed to initiate a proceeding to disqualify the candidates of the
two political parties that have held the State to ransom shedding innocent
blood in the process. The Electoral umpire has chosen to treat the gladiators
and perpetrators of mayhem with kid-gloved hands and conveniently call for
re-run which is bound to produce the very same scenario and predictable result
that would be no reflect reality.
“It is irrational and unfair to lead us and our teaming
supporters into a fool’s voyage with proven lethal ends as our electoral
process is now associated with dynamites, guns and other weapons of war.
“We therefore resolve as follows:
“That we shall withdraw from further participation in the
endless charade of an election except INEC initiates a proceeding to the effect
of punishing or disqualifying the candidates of the political parties who
persistently perpetrate and sponsor violence against innocent Rivers people.
“That INEC should refund our expenses with regard to the
last two botched polls and compensate us monetarily for resources and time
wasted in the botched polls.
“It is on record that INEC omitted the name of a major
political party in the Result Sheet of Asari Toru Local Government Area. This
is a patent illustration of INEC’S inefficiency and unpreparedness for the
Election that culminated in the wastage of our time and resources on the one
hand, and the needless death of innocent citizens and the perpetration of
mayhem.
“We shall therefore initiate legal proceeding to seek
redress against INEC if it fails to perform its statutory duties by complying with
this demand.
In Prince Tonye Princewill's response to this development
he simply said: “If democracy is government of the people by the people and for
the people, things have got to change. It is illegal to be legal in an illegal
society”
He also added that, “Those who say this election was bad,
have no clue as to what the 2015 election was like. If politicians have no
alternative to politics, then their politics will remain do or die. Especially
when death has no consequence on earth and God forgives freely while Nigerians
forgive freer. INEC is now a referee that can't even issue red cards.”
“My advice to my people is - do all you can to remain
peaceful. God is not sleeping and every cloud has a silver lining. Justice is
not far away. The war between Wike & Amaechi is almost over. Mark my words.
And the winner will be Rivers state.”
By Hector Spiff
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