BAYELSA GUBER: AGGRIEVED ASPIRANT DRAGS PDP, DICKSON, INEC TO COURT

The crisis rocking the Bayelsa State chapter of the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) over the conduct of the governorship primaries deepened yesterday with a suit by Mr. Christopher Enai, one of the aspirants seeking the nullification of the controversial primary election at the Abuja Federal High Court.

Mr. Henry Seriake Dickson who emerged winner in the disputed governorship primary election had immediately extended a hand of fellowship to all the aspirants, calling on them to join hands with him as the standard bearer of the party to rebuild the state.

Dickson disclosed that, he had directed his contact committee that he set up after the ward congress, to establish contact with all aggrieved party members to resolve all lingering issues before the general elections.

While some of the aspirants were said to be disposed towards the overtures of Dickson, Mr Christopher Enai rejected the overtures and has filed a suit before an Abuja Federal High Court calling for the nullification of the election.

Enai who listed the PDP, Dickson and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as respondents in the suit is seeking for an order declaring the election null and void, as it was held in negation to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010

He also prayed the court to make an order restraining Dickson from parading himself as the candidate of the PDP for the February governorship election.

Enai asked the court to restrain INEC from accepting, Processing and recognizing Dickson as the candidate of the party for the election.

He said he was filing the application on the grounds that as a member of the party he completed and returned all necessary forms and paid all relevant fees qualifying him to participate in the election.

Enai averred, 'Contrary to the electoral guidelines of the PDP, the PDP failed to follow its own guidelines for the purpose of conducting governorship primary election which includes, election of three ward delegates from each ward for participation at the governorship primary election.

'No special ward congress was convened and held by the PDP in the whole of Bayelsa State for the purpose of electing the ward delegates and no ward delegates were elected for the purpose of participating in the said governorship primary election.

'Contrary to the electoral Act and without complying with its own guidelines, PDP purported to have conducted a governorship primary election for the governorship election for Bayelsa State, wherein, it purported to have selected Dickson as the candidate on November 19, 2011.

'In an affidavit he deposed to, he prayed the Court to give the matter accelerated hearing, noting that the legal action became necessary following an indication that the PDP had no intention to use its internal mechanism in resolving the matter.

He said 'the list of candidates sponsored by any political party for the governorship election must be submitted to INEC not later than 60 days before the date of election. In the case of Bayelsa State governorship election for February 2012, the 60 days to the date of the election terminates on or about the December 9, 2011. This is a matter of real urgency.