The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nigeria has reacted to the recent nullification of the Bayelsa state governorship election following a petition by the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP), which argued that it was unlawfully excluded from participating in the elections.
Speaking on behalf of the Commission, Festus Okoye, the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), revealed that the ANDP nomination for the election was invalid as it missed the submission deadline for its proposed candidates for the elections.
Okoye recalled that while the party had expressed interest in participating in the November 16, 2019, Bayelsa governorship elections, its initial candidate submission was rejected based on the age of its deputy governor aspirant, Peter David Esinkuma.
“As at the time of the submission of the name of the said candidate, he was 34 years-old, contrary to Section 177(b) of the constitution that makes it mandatory for a candidate for such office to attain the age of 35 years to be eligible to contest the election,” he said.
He further explained that while the Commission reached out to ANDP with the information, asking for a new deputy governor candidate, by the time the party responded with Inowei Janeth as its new candidate on September 21, 2019, the deadline for the submission of nominations (September 9, 2019) as contained in the Commission’s timetable had passed. As a result, the party’s name and logo were excluded from the ballot paper.
The Commission’s spokesman also explained that the party did not exercise its right guaranteed in the Fourth Alteration to the constitution, by filing its suit within 14 days of the accrual of the said right as the issues canvassed are pre-election issues. He also made it known that the Commission would respond further when it is availed of the full judgment.
Meanwhile, Governor Duoye Diri whose tenure was cut short as a result of the ruling by the Bayelsa State Gubernatorial Petition Tribunal has revealed that he will be following the case up with the Court of Appeal, in a bid to rule out the tribunal’s decision.
The recent ruling continues a back and forth processbetween the judiciary and the people of Bayelsa state for the occupancy of its governorship seat.
This story is part of our new series on Nigeria where we analyse electoral reform in the country ahead of the next general elections in 2023.
