Group commends INEC, security agencies on poll
The Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced the suspension of 22 party leaders for anti-party activities.
A statement by the party’s state’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Banji Okunomo, said the decision was taken at the State Working Committee (SWC)’s meeting.
The party led by Clement Faboyede, explained that the decision was done in line with Section 57 of the party’s constitution.
According to the statement, the suspension of the party chieftains was with immediate effect.
Those suspended were the state chairman of the Ali Modu-Sheriff’s faction, Mr. Biyi Poroye, Senator Omololu Meroyi, Ebenezer Alabi and the running mate to Jimoh Ibrahim in last Saturday’s governorship election.
Others are the former Speaker of the state House of Assembly Dr. Bakkita Bello and the former Deputy Speaker, Dare Emiola.
Also suspended was the former Commissioner for Environment, Sola Ebiseni, who vied for the governorship candidacy in the Modu-Sheriff’s faction, Dr. Olu Ogunye, Mrs. Yemi Ajonibode and 14 others.
Okunomo explained further that “by the virtue of the Court of Appeal judgment, Biyi Poroye did not only cease to be an executive of the party as he claimed, but have also cease to be a member of the party.”
The statement added that the suspended members would appear before the party’s disciplinary committee on December 5.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has commended the conduct of last Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State.
The group, however, said there could be room for improvement in future elections.
In a statement yesterday, the Executive Director, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Mr. Clement Nwankwo said the organisation reached its conclusion based on various field reports from its deployed observers and partner election observer networks from across the 18 local council areas.
It particularly commended the preparedness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the orderly conduct of the security personnel and the cooperation of various political parties in the poll.
The Situation Room also commended the voters and the professionalism displayed by the electoral body during the voting process at the polling units (PU).
It raised concerns about the knowledge of procedures by election personnel, especially the ad-hoc staff.
According to the group, “Our observations and reports from the field revealed that there was early distribution and deployment of personnel and materials, which led to the commencement of voting at the scheduled time of 8:00 a.m.
“But we frowned on the inability of the Smart Card Readers (SCR) to authenticate fingerprints in a large number of instances.”
It also raised issue with the general arrangement of some polling units, which had inadequate floor spaces, which it argued, was capable of compromising the secrecy of the ballot.
The group noted with dismay the poor welfare condition of security personnel deployed in the election and urged a better arrangement in future elections.