PDP heads to court over Edo LG polls

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has disclosed plans to restrain Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) from conducting the Local Government election in the state.
It however urged its party supporters and members to remain united and calm, pending the determination of the proposed suit, stressing that the PDP will not boycott the Local Government polls billed for March 3rd 2018.
The state Chairman of the party, Dan Orbih briefed the Media at the end of a stakeholders meeting held at the party Secretariat in Benin City.
The state House of Assembly had on the 12th December 2017, amended the law establishing EDSIEC, reducing the Local Government election notice from 90 to 45 days.
He vowed that the court would determine whether the Edo state House of Assembly has the powers to validly amend the Edo state Local Government electoral laws to abridge the mandatory 90 days notice of polls, as stipulated in Section 30 (1) of the Electoral act 2010 as amended having regard to paragraph 11 and 12 of part 2 in the second schedule of the 1999 Constitution.
The PDP chairman assured that the state Chapter of the inter party advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC), has already disassociated themselves from the proposed Local Government Elections.
He also called on all those who have been disenfranchised by APC from contesting the Local Government election to seek redress in court and alleged undemocratic electoral guidelines of EDSIEC in connivance with the ruling All Progressives Congress.
“After a very lively debate by stakeholders of the party, we have resolved that we are going length of notice of polls stated in section 30 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, has the powers to having regard to paragraph 11 and 12 of part 2 of the second schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We also want the court to decide whether it’s valid for the Local Government Election to be conducted in Edo state without giving the PDP and other stakeholders the mandatory 90 days notice of polls, stated in Section 30 (1) of the Electoral act 2010 as amended.
According to him, “Section 100 (2) of the 1999 constitution as amended. These issues are very critical. The party has come to a conclusion that we have a responsibility to protect and save democracy. We must put an end the impunity of the All Progressives Congress both at he state and the Federal level.
“We believe this is not the spirit of the Constitution and undemocratic for APC to deny its members their rights to contest elections into the various arms of Local Government Areas should seek redress in court.
“For us in PDP, we have taken a position and there is no going back; we will contest the various critical issues that have been raised in the cause of this briefing.
“We urge our aspirants both at the Counsellorship and Chairmanship potions to remain calm while we awaits the decision of the judiciary on this very critical issues”, he said.