…… Issues one-week ultimatum to INEC
The last is yet to be heard over the suspended Port Harcourt City Constituency 3 bye-election as one of the opposition parties, the Democratic Alternative Party which took part in the August 18 election has given the Independent National Electoral Commission a one-week ultimatum to announce the result of the poll.
The Democratic Alternative Party added that the electoral umpire does not have the powers to suspend or cancel an election that has already begun.
The party, through its state chairman, Obrasua Johnbull, said if the commission refuses to rescind its decision on or before the end of the ultimatum, his party would drag INEC to court.
Mr Johnbull said, “We have contacted our lawyers and we are putting necessary legal papers in place.
“We are ready to challenge the decision of INEC on the PHALGA constituency three bye-election in court. We are only waiting for the ultimatum to elapse.”
Recall that theportcitynews reported of the suspension of the bye-election by INEC due to actions of some politicians and security agencies.
The All Progressive Congress, APC and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, traded blames over the spate of violence that characterized the bye-election.
INEC, during a press conference after the election, described the actions of the politicians and several security agents, especially the men of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, FSARS, as ‘shameful’.
Also, it would be recalled that barely few days after INEC announced the suspension of the bye-election, the Democratic Alternative party and the Masses Movement of Nigeria party convened a joint press conference to demand the immediate declaration of the bye-election results.
In a joint statement read to newsmen by the State Chairman of the Democratic Alternative party, the party maintained that: “The action to suspend the bye-election by INEC is a violation of the Electoral Act.”
