The Independent National Electoral Commission has said its position on whether the governorship election in Bayelsa State will hold tomorrow or not will lbe made known latest by midday today.
This is as the commission prepares to honour the summons of Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja to defend itself in a case brought against it by the African Rennaisance Party, whose candidate was excluded from INEC’s list for the election.
Okorowo yesterday granted the party’s application that its candidate, Hon. Dumbo Hink, should be listed for the election.
This, many have reasoned, could lead to the stoppage of the election as the ballot papers must have been printed, with a very slim chance of printing another one before tomorrow.
Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary of the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, told The Eagle Online this morning that he needed to be briefed on the commission’s position before he could speak authoritatively on the election in Bayelsa State tomorrow.
Idowu said the position of the commission should be made known latest by midday today.
Idowu told The Eagle Online: “No position has been taken yet on the issue.
“But I am sure by midday today we should have a position on the issue.
“If you call me back by then, I am sure there will be a clear direction in which we are heading.”
Okorowo had yesterday granted ARP’s application brought by its lawyer, Kayode Ajulo, seeking the inclusion of the names of Hink and his running mate, Adigio Inangaebite.
INEC, the party averred, violated some provisions of the Electoral Act 2010, inluding giving just 12 days notice for the election instead of 90.
Okorowo held that it would be unfair for the commission to exclude the ARP from the election, ordering INEC to include Hinks and Inangaebite.
The ARP went to the court seeking for:
•AN ORDER of the court directing all parties to this suit to maintain status quo on any matter arising from the conduct of the election into the vacant office of the Governor of Bayelsa State slated for 11th day of February, 2012 pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice dated 7th of the February, 2012.
•AND for such other orders as the Honourable Court may deem fit to make in furtherance of the above prayers and in the urgent circumstances of this case.