PDP CONGRESSES: ABIA STATE GOVERNMENT MOVES TO BRIBE INEC

Chinedu Anyanwu

Worried that the Federal High Court Umuahia will likely nullify the Congresses held by the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State, the Abia State Government is making frantic moves to bribe INEC, Abuja with the sum of Forty - five million naira (N45m) with a promise to pay more.

INEC Regulations of 2018 stipulates that for a party to hold a valid congress, it must notify INEC Headquarters at least 7 days before the time. Abia State PDP held a kangaroo Congress on the 6th of May 2022 by a letter dated 4th May 2022 addressed to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) and received by the REC on 5th May, 2022.

The 2018 INEC Regulations make it mandatory that only a communication signed by both the National Chairman and National Secretary of a political party addressed to the National Headquarters of INEC is valid. In a letter signed by Secretary to INEC Rose Orarian - Anthony and dated 13th May 2022, INEC confirmed that the last letter they received from PDP National was the one rescheduling Abia PDP Congress to 4th of May, 2022. What this means is that the 6th May 2022 Congress of the PDP in Abia was held without giving INEC the stipulated 7days notice, thereby breaching INEC Regulations. In the eye of the law, PDP Abia did not hold any valid congress.

Now, they are offering INEC bribe to write and backdate a letter that INEC authorised Abia PDP to organise a Congress in line with the law. INEC is about receiving N45m with a promise to receive more so that Abia PDP will succeed in proving that their Congresses were lawful.

The general public should please remind INEC of their letter of 13th May 2022 which is already in the public domain. They should not soil the name of the Commission and destroy what they had built for a mere N45m.

PDP and Corruption...

Bribery?

Well, what I think about the case are as follows:
1. The adhoc Congress definitely went through a "kangaroo" process.

2. The 7 days is not a problem if INEC decides to monitor despite not informed. The penalty is One million naira fine and is not a disqualication criteria. (Shinkafi v Yari)

3. Notwithstanding No 2 above, INEC was not informed and also did not attend... makes it more difficult.

4. The most important dwell on locus standi. Whilst this is a good case for Sampson Orji & Ndidi Nwagbara, they did not participate in the Primaries. The SC has made it clear that only persons who get accredited in the venue of the Primary are said to be Aspirants.

Only Aspirants can challenge issues surrounding Primaries.

Ikonne's lawyers will target Preliminary Objection on Number 4.

Judgement will be this week....