Bayelsa PDP in major crisis As Alaibe drags PDP, INEC, Senator Douye Diri, Embeleakpo Alale to Court • Demands fresh Governorship primary
By Our Correspondent
Barely one day ago,when
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published Senator
Douye Diri as the Standard Bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the
November 16 governorship election in Bayelsa state, the party has been engulfed
with major crisis.
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| Chief Ndutimi Alaibe |
A Press Statement Published On Facebook Signed
by Professor Seiyefa Brisibe Administrative Secretary, Alaibe Campaign Organization
was quoted as saying that the former Managing Director of Niger Delta
development Commission (NDDC) and Governorship Aspirant in the just concluded PDP primaries in the state, Chief Ndutimi Alaibe has dragged Senator Douye Diri, the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC), and for himself and representing the elected local
government chairmen, vice chairmen and councilors of the PDP allowed to be
delegates at the elective State Congress of the PDP in Bayelsa State held on
September 3, 2019 to the Federal High Court in Yenogoa Judicial Division,
Bayelsa State with an application for cancellation of the result of the primary
election based on cited procedural flaws on Friday September 13, 2019.
The press
statement read thus”Brazenly robbed of victory at the governorship primary
election through flawed electoral processes, Chief Ndutimi Alaibe, a frontline
contestant in the manipulated race has taken a bold step in search of redress.
On Friday
September 13, 2019, Alaibe approached the Federal High Court in Yenogoa
Judicial Division, Bayelsa State with an application for cancellation of the
result of the primary election based on cited procedural flaws.
The suit filed
pursuant to Order 3(9) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019,
seeks answers to questions bordering on obvious non-adherence to the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act 2010, the
Peoples Democratic Party Constitution and Election Guidelines, by the State
Chapter of the party in the conduct of the Ward Congresses, inclusion of local
government council officials in the delegates list and the procedure for
inclusion of three ad-hoc delegates.
Citing specific
sections of relevant laws and guidelines, Alaibe is asking the court to examine
the entire processes that resulted in the primaries and rule in his favour in
the light of violations committed in a desperate move to impose a
pre-determined hand-picked candidate on the people out of 21 aspirants.
It would be
recalled that the Timi Alaibe Campaign Organisation had raised objections
against what it described as gross disrespect for legal procedures and party
guidelines in the build-up to the conduct of the governorship primary election
by the State Chapter of the PDP. The objection covered open disobedience to the
party constitution and electoral guidelines and the manner in which Ward
Congresses were conducted; among others.
Specifically,
the Campaign Organisation had protested the inclusion of the newly elected
council chairmen, vice chairmen and councillors in the delegates list contrary
to the provisions of the PDP Constitution; the manner in which electoral and
returning officers were picked to favour aspirants endorsed by the already
biased leadership of the party in the state; the manner in which the 315 ad-hoc
delegates were directed to vote contrary to already established judicial
precedents; among other issues.
The suit, with
reference number FHC/YNG/CS/99/2019, has as defendants: the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP), Senator Douye Diri, the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC), and Embeleakpo Alale for himself and representing the elected local
government chairmen, vice chairmen and councillors of the PDP allowed to be
delegates at the elective State Congress of the PDP in Bayelsa State held on
September 3, 2019.
Also joined in
the suit as defendant is Doubra Kumokou, for himself and on behalf of the Three
Ad-Hoc Delegates allowed to be delegates at the elective State Congress.
The former
Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs wants the court to
determine whether the pre-election actions and inactions of the defendants
satisfied conditions specified in relevant sections of Nigeria’s Constitution,
the Electoral Acts and certain sections of the PDP Constitution.
It is Alaibe’s
prayers that the entire processes be declared unconstitutional and the
declaration of Senator Diri as the winner be declared invalid having failed to
comply with relevant sections of the laws governing such processes.
He is also
seeking an order setting aside the purported submission of Senator Diri’s name
to INEC by the PDP as its candidate in the governorship election coming up on
November 16, 2019 in view of the several legal and procedural infractions
cited.
In view of
this, he wants the court to order the conduct of fresh primary elections for
the nomination and sponsorship of the candidate for the governorship election
in Bayelsa State.
No date has yet
been fixed for hearing in the case”.
 |
| Professor Seiyefa Brisibe |
SIGNED PROFESSOR SEIYEFA BRISIBE
ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY, ALAIBE CAMPAIGN ORGANISATION.
All efforts to confirm the story proves abortive as at press time as he did not pick his phone.
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