Nigeria Content Online

The national
leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has written the
Independent National Election Commission (INEC) stating reasons why it
will not organise fresh congresses in some states.

The party also set aside October 29-November 1, for a fresh congress in Imo State.

The commission had
in a letter signed by the INEC secretary, Abdullahi Kaugama, said it
would not accept congresses in eight states, insisting the ones
organized in those places were inconclusive. The states are Adamawa,
Imo, Kogi, Delta, Oyo, Plateau, Bayelsa and Enugu. But in a letter
signed by the PDP deputy national chairman, Bello Mohammed and dated
October 26, addressed to the INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega, the ruling
party said it will not accede to the request by the national electoral
body except as regards Imo State.

The ruling party had last weekend dissolved the executive committee of the Enugu State chapter.

Mr Mohammed
explained that fresh congress will not be conducted in some states,
especially Delta and Oyo because the previous congresses in 2008 have
become a matter of litigation in courts. He recalled that the congress
in Delta State was supervised by the commission’s monitoring team after
which the then Resident Electoral Commission, Humphrey Nwangeneh
forwarded a report to the INEC chairman in Abuja.

“There is evidence
that a Monitoring Team of the commission monitored the congresses at
the relevant levels and made a report duly signed. (The letter attached
copies of the letter of INEC Monitoring team that confirmed that there
were congresses marked annexure 1).

“By a covering
letter dated March 6 2008, the Resident Electoral Commission, then
Humphrey O. Nwangeneh (JP) forwarded the report of the congresses to
the INEC Chairman. (Annexure marked J,” the letter stated.

Change of position

Mr Mohammed also said that the matter is already in court.

“There is an
interim order of injunction issued by the presiding judge which have
been served and are subsisting, Enrolled orders attached and marked
annexure K.

“The documents
emanating from your commission do not support the claim of inconclusive
congress in Delta state. While the above suit pending, no fresh
congress can legally hold in Delta state. There appears to be good
reason for the commission to have a second look at the case of Delta
state.” The PDP deputy national chairman said there are also several
litigations pending in court on the congress in Oyo State, adding that
already an order of injunction has been issues by one of the courts.

“Our understanding
of the ruling on jurisdiction is that the ex-parte order earlier issued
by the court was never made and that at all materials times, the Oyo
State congress was never legally encumbered by any valid court order,”
Mr Mohammed said. “There is evidence that the same court which gave the
Ex-parte orders later held that it had no jurisdiction to entertain the
case and accordingly struck it out.” He, however, confirmed that INEC
did not monitor the congress in Oyo State, and that of Enugu whose
committee was dissolved last weekend.

Mr Mohammed also attached documentary evidence indicating that
congresses were held in some other states and asked INEC to change its
position on the matter.