The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is in a present state of confusion over the Peoples Democratic Party’s National convention following opposing court rulings on the subject matter.
INEC on Tuesday expressed its confusion as regards monitoring the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party which is scheduled to hold today, Wednesday, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Recall that Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court siting in Abuja had on Tuesday ruled that the PDP convention must not hold.
The Judge also issued warning to INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahood Yakubu, to disregard the convention and to the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris,, urging him to enforce the order.
However, the latest ruling comes in contrast to an earlier ruling by Justice Ibrahim Watila of the Port Harcourt Division of the Federal High Court which directed the IGP to monitor the convention.
One of the national commissioners while speaking on the conflict created by the opposing verdicts said: “We have just been told that we should not be at the convention on the order of Justice Abang. Yet, another court in Port Harcourt said we must be there. These are same courts with same powers under the same President, because the Federal High Court in the country is headed by a President.
“Are these judges reading different laws or constitution? Can’t the President of the Federal High Court call his men to order?
“If we go to Port Harcourt for the convention, a judge will say we flouted his order and if we don’t go, another one will frown at our action”.
The Director, Publicity and Voters Education, INEC, Mr. Oluwole Osaze, while speaking to Punch’s correspondent said: “We are in dilemma over which order to obey for now. One order asks us to go, another says we should not. We are waiting to be served with the order of Justice Abang before knowing what to do.”
Futher closing on the INEC’s possible move, a deputy director in the same department, Mr. Nick Danzang, said: “Although the commission has been served the Port Harcourt court judgment, it has yet to be served the Abuja court judgment by Justice Abang”.
He added: “In the meantime, our monitoring workers are on standby”.