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April polls: PDP, 12 others
refuse to sign election Code of Conduct
From FRANCIS AWOWOLE-BROWNE, Abuja
Wednesday,
March 9, 2011
Chairman 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.
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