Bayelsa PDP Guber Candidate: Sylva Flays PDP Over Pressures On INEC

TIMIPRE SYLVA, BAYELSA STATE GOVERNOR

SAN FRANCISCO, January 17, (THEWILL) - Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State says diatribes against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by mandarins of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aimed at compromising the commission from its adherence to the rule of law on the Bayelsa State governorship race is a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
 
Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Doifie Ola, Sylva observes that INEC did the right and lawful thing by acknowledging that the issue of PDP governorship candidate in Bayelsa State for the 11 February 2012 election is a subject of inconclusive litigation. The governor believes INEC’s position is in line with a subsisting court order, which the Court of Appeal has upheld.
 
Sylva says the PDP leadership should allow INEC to follow the law, instead of putting pressure on the commission and trying to arm-twist it to change its lawful democratic position. He notes that INEC has come out publicly to state that it is acting within the ambit of the law on the Bayelsa State governorship issue and the whole democratic humanity agrees with this position.
 
Sylva, the statement adds, is not surprised by the unwholesome attack on INEC because the PDP has lately been noted for its lawlessness. He cautions the party against doing anything to endanger the democratic process in order for a few powerful elements to have their way by all means, fair or foul. 
 
“The current PDP leadership should not do anything to derail this democracy by trying to arm-twist INEC. The party leaders should respect the sanctity of the law and the responsibility of INEC to handle electoral matters as guaranteed under our laws,” the governor added.