The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) may have its candidates list in 2015 turned down by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) turned down if it doesn’t address the anomalies already observed by the commission in the election of some members of its National Working Committee.
It has been learnt that this is the position of the electoral body that they would not deal with an NWC that was not properly constituted, after writing the party two weeks ago that 12 members of the NWC were improperly elected.
A report of a 12-member committee of the commission led by Col. M. K. Hammanga (rtd) had picked holes in the process used by the party to elect the 12 affected officials, which they said was in violation of paragraphs 6.5 of the guidelines used to conduct the 2012 congresses and national convention of the party.
The NWC members whose elections was voided by INEC are: the Deputy National Chairman, Sam Sam Jaja; National Organizing Secretary, Abubakar Mustapha; National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh; his deputy, Binta Goje; National Youth Leader, Garba Chiza; his deputy, Dennis Alonge Niyi; Deputy National Auditor, Senator Umar Ibrahim; National Women Leader, Kema Chikwe; her deputy, Hannatu Ulam; Deputy National Treasurer, Claudius Inengas; and the National Legal Adviser, Victor Kwon.
However, the PDP has rejected the report of the commission, saying it was aimed at destabilizing the party.
When the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Kayode Idowu was contacted, he refused to comment because the issues were already in court.
He said, “The issues raised by you here are already in court and I can’t comment on them.”
However, a top member of the commission who did not want his name in print, informed this correspondent that the commission had decided not to involve itself in a media battle with the ruling party.
He noted that the term of the present NWC, which was constituted at the national convention of the party last year, would not have ended by 2015 when the next general elections would be conducted.
He then said that based on Section 85 (3) of the Electoral Act 2010, the report of INEC had already adjudged the NWC to have been improperly constituted.
The section read, “The elections of the members of the executive committee or other governing body of a political party, including the election to fill a vacant position in any of the aforesaid bodies, shall be conducted in a democratic manner and allowing for all members of the party or duly elected delegates to vote in support of a candidate of their choice.”
The INEC official then said, “If the PDP fails to hold a fresh national convention before 2015 to correct what we have observed in the emergence of the 12 NWC members, it means the committee is not legally constituted.
“We won’t accept their candidates list in 2015 or in any election in 2015. The only option open to the party is to hold a fresh national convention.”
The position of INEC also has won support from two senior lawyers, Prof Itse Sagay and Mallam Yusuf Ali, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria, who stressed that INEC’s duties ought to go beyond just organising elections.
Sagay advised that PDP should organise a fresh election to fill the 12 contentious positions in its NWC.
He said, “INEC has to monitor any particular election organised by a political party. It also has the right to declare whether the election was regular or not. Elections conducted by the political parties have to be confirmed by INEC.
“It is in the Electoral Act.
“They (PDP) have to organise another election and invite INEC, and whatever irregularities that were observed should be corrected.”
On his part, Ali stressed the need for INEC to help stabilise the polity by playing a more effective role in monitoring the political parties.
Ali noted that the absence of internal democracy in the political parties meant that INEC should be able to call them to order.
He said PDP should consider INEC’s position on the election of the 12 NWC members.
Ali said, “An electoral body cannot just be a body that conducts elections.
“If you want to deepen democracy there must be other powers other than registration. INEC should also set standards.
“It should be able to say that x and y is not qualified to stand for elective office.
“There are issues over the credibility of people who stand for election and those who conduct election in the parties.
“Part of the problem is that parties do not have internal democracy and they cannot be left to their own devices.”