PDP cries out over exclusion of Bayelsa candidate, says  ‘we are shocked, embarrassed and disappointed’ by INEC
Newsdiaryonline  Fri Jan 13,2012

Dickson

The ruling peoples Democratic Party, PDP said it was taken aback by the exclusion of its gubernatorial candidate Henry Seriake Dickson and his running mate  Rear Admiral John Gboribiogha Jonah (rtd) from the official list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC.The Commission simply said the party’s slots were subject of litigation and recognized no name yet contrary to the expectation of the party.

While stating the party’s position at a press conference, the Bayelsa state chairman of PDP, Deacon James Dugo  said” It has come to our notice that the name of our governorship candidate, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson and his running mate, Rear Admiral John Gboribiogha Jonah (rtd.) has been unjustly excluded from the list of candidates released by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to contest the February 11, 2012 governorship election in Bayelsa State.

“We are completely taken aback by this development and to say the least, we are shocked, embarrassed and disappointed that INEC would take such a drastic and monumental decision without recourse to us as a party, having formally received and accepted the names of our candidate and his running mate following the successful conduct of our party primaries on November 19, 2011.

“Our party has formally written to INEC over this matter and we expect a speedy and prompt response from INEC in this regard. Be that as it may, we wish to strongly express our reservation over the exclusion of our candidate from the lists of candidates released by INEC to contest the February 11, 2012 governorship election in Bayelsa State.

See the text of PDP’s press conference below:

A SPECIAL PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN BAYELSA STATE CALLING ON THE INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION TO TAKE NECESSARY ACTION OVER THE REMOVAL OF THE NAME OF HON. HENRY SERIAKE DICKSON AS PDP GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE FOR THE FEBRUARY 11, 2012 IN BAYELSA STATE.

12/01/2012

Distinguished members of the press, let me on behalf of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State welcome you all to this press conference.

It has come to our notice that the name of our governorship candidate, Hon. Henry Serike Dickson and his running mate, Rear Admiral John Gboribiogha Jonah (rtd.) has been unjustly excluded from the list of candidates released by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to contest the February 11, 2012 governorship election in Bayelsa State.

We are completely taken aback by this development and to say the least, we are shocked, embarrassed and disappointed that INEC would take such a drastic and monumental decision without recourse to us as a party, having formally received and accepted the names of our candidate and his running mate following the successful conduct of our party primaries on November 19, 2011.

Our party has formally written to INEC over this matter and we expect a speedy and prompt response from INEC in this regard. Be that as it may, we wish to strongly express our reservation over the exclusion of our candidate from the lists of candidates released by INEC to contest the February 11, 2012 governorship election in Bayelsa State.

We refuse to believe that some persons in INEC are colluding with officials of the Bayelsa State Government to carry out this sinister act. It is totally condemnable and such an action should be probed and investigated so that those found culpable will be brought to book immediately. Towards this end, we hereby call on the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, Prof Atahiru Jega, to speedily wade into this matter and immediately address these obvious lapses.

We find it most ridiculous and preposterous for anyone to say that because the issue of PDP candidacy is still a subject of litigation therefore, INEC is not obliged to publish the name of our candidate pending the decision of the suit in question. We wish to draw the attention of those holding such a view to the Court of Appeal ruling of Saturday, January 7, 2012 presided by Justice Zainab Buckachuwa. The ruling of the court of appeal on the matter is very clear. According to Justice Buckachuwa in her ruling, she said PDP did not violate any court order when it conducted the November 19, 2011 primaries because in the first place no such order was given.

The court of appeal ruling also clearly held that Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court over reached himself by making pronouncements that were prejudicial to the PDP when he threatened to nullify the November 19, 2011 primaries conducted by PDP which produced Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson as flag bearer of the PDP in Bayelsa State.

The court further held that the unfortunate pronouncement of Justice Kolawole amounted to a determination of the substantive suit without hearing from the appellant (PDP) and as such, he (Justice Kolawole) disqualified himself from hearing the substantive suit. The court therefore referred the case back to the Federal High Court where the case will now be heard by another Judge.

Suffice to say that from the ruling of the Court of Appeal, it will be right to infer that the PDP held governorship primaries of November 19, 2011, which produced Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson as flag bearer of the party in the February 11, 2012 general election in Bayelsa State remains valid and is certified as authentic and superior to any other governorship primaries conducted by the party before now.

We are therefore calling on INEC to do the right thing by coming out boldly to correct the gross omission and flagrant exclusion of our candidate’s name from the lists of candidates released by the electoral body of candidates contesting the February 11, 2012 governorship election in Bayelsa State.

Thank you.

Deacon James Dugo

Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Bayelsa State.

INEC drops Seriake  from Bayelsa guber  list, Sylva  hails move, heads to Supreme Court