By Ben Agande &Henry Umoru
ABUJA—THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday, said it would await the decision of the courts in states where results of its congresses were being challenged in the law courts.

In a letter to the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, the commission said “the dispute on the Delta State executive committee of the party has been submitted to the court. The commission awaits decision on the dispute by the court.”

In the letter which was signed by the secretary of the commission, Abdullahi Kaugama and dated November 26, 2010, the commission addressed issues pertaining to the states where the congresses were inconclusive.

INEC  had earlier stated its position that Congresses conducted in eight states in 2008 were inconclusive and thereafter ordered the PDP to repeat same, but due to pressure from some of the state chapters, the National Working Committee, NWC, of the PDP wrote to the Commission  on the need to reconsider its stand in view of the forthcoming elections.

The states included Anambra, Bayelsa, Enugu, Plateau, Oyo, Delta and Kogi.
The letter with reference INEC/DPPM&L/SC/337/vol/.1 34 entitled “Re: Alleged Inconclusive Congresses in eight states: Need for a revisit” said that in the case of Enugu State: “The commission was served with an originating summons and a motion for injunction on the tenure of the Enugu State executive Committee. The matter being subjudice, the commission would await the decision of the court on the suit.”

In the case of  Anambra, the secretary stated: “ The congresses in Anambra State scheduled for October 22, 23 and 25 2010 were in contravention of the judgment of the High Court in suit number CV/12/09/ between Benji Udeozor and Ors vs PDP delivered on October 6, 2010, wherein the court held that members of the Benji Udeozor led executive committee in Anambra State were wrongfully removed from office and are entitled to their unexpired tenure.”

The commission ruled that though the “wards and local government congresses in all the local government areas of Kogi State were validly concluded, the state congress failed to meet democratic principles. It is, therefore, advised that it should be conducted again.”

It said since the case of  Oyo State has been taken to the law courts “the commission awaits decision on the dispute by the court” while it says it also awaits ‘the determination of the Court of Appeal referred to in your representation’ in the case of Plateau State.

While calling for the speedy conclusion of all legal cases, INEC said it accepts to be bound ‘by the judgment of the High Court of Bayelsa state’ in the case of the dispute in Bayelsa state and asked the party to provide the commission with the state of the state executive committee based on the judgment.