ABUJA, Federal Republic of Nigeria. (Unic Press UK) – The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the decision of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the way forward on Kogi state gubernatorial election following the death of the APC candidate Abubakar Audu.
PDP rejects INEC decision, calls on AGF to quit
Excerpts from the statement that was released by the PDP on Tuesday, 24 November 2015, reads:
“We are all aware that the two legal documents guiding INEC in the conduct of elections; the Constitution and the Electoral Act, have provisions for electoral exigencies as well as empower the electoral body to fully take responsibility for any of its actions or inaction without undue interference from any quarters whatsoever.
“We are therefore at a loss as to which sections of these two relevant laws, INEC and the AGF relied on in arriving at their bizarre decision to substitute a dead candidate in an on-going election even after the timelines for such has elapsed under all the rules.
“The clear implication of this action of the AGF and INEC is that the APC would be fielding two different governorship candidates in the on-going Kogi election, meaning that INEC would be transferring votes cast for late Prince Abubakar Audu to another candidate, scenarios that have no place in the constitution of the land.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had, on Tuesday, via a “public notice”, which was signed by the secretary to the Commission, informed the general public that the supplementary election in respect of the Kogi state gubernatorial election that was inconclusive, will hold on Saturday, 5 December 2015.
INEC says the APC should fill the vacany created by the death of their initial candidate.
At the time the election was declared inconclusive by INEC on Saturday, 21 November 2015, the APC candidate Abubakar Audu – now deceased – was leading with over 41,000.
Credit: Unic Press UK
