NDF to INEC: Conclude Bayelsa polls within 72 hours or…

The National Democratic Front (NDF) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to resolve all pending issues concerning the Bayelsa State governorship election within 72 hours or face protests from civil rights groups.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the group’s National Secretary, Sunnybright Attah, said the group was saddened by the conduct of INEC in all the elections it has conducted so far.
He said the group has observed with disdain the inconclusive nature of elections in recent times, a practice that portends injustice and malpractice which has the very potential to take back the nation’s progressing democracy to the dark ages of rigging and electoral fraud which have nearly been surmounted by the former leadership of the election umpire.
He blamed the commission for the current stalemate in Bayelsa where all political parties that participated in the elections are laying claim to, the highest votes cast in southern Ijaw Local Government.
According to him, it is unconstitutional for political parties to constitute themselves into electoral umpires by declaring results, stating that such situation has been occasioned by the lacuna created by INEC.
The group which feared a case of civil breakdown if the issues are not resolved on time, warned the electoral umpire of the consequences of such reaction from the people from that area which has already been known to be volatile and such should not be provoked into a new regime of unwarranted violence.
He also accused INEC of over stepping its limits and acting as a law court in its recent outings while condemning it and describing it as an abuse of the concept of separation of powers.
“Let it be established that it is an abuse of the concept of separation of powers as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, for INEC to abrogate herself the powers of the law court.
“It behooves on us as patriotic citizens to defend the constitution irrespective of the actors or how highly placed they are”. He said.
The group also threatened to mobilise other pro- democracy groups all over the country, to take over the INEC headquarters in Abuja if the commission fails to announce the results in 72 hours.