Bayelsa 2012: CNPP Urges Reps To Sanction Dickson

The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), yesterday urged the House of Representatives to sanction its member, Mr Henry Dickson, for participating in the PDP gubernatorial primary in Bayelsa, in defiance of a court order.

The CNPP, however, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and President Goodluck Jonathan, for obeying the law by boycotting the election.

In a statement signed by its South-West Secretary, Mr Austin Nnorom, in Lagos, the CNPP said that such a sanction would restore discipline and respect by Nigerians for the House, and its members.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the President and INEC stayed away from the PDP’s gubernatorial primary in Bayelsa, in compliance with an interim court order.

The order, which was issued by the Federal High Court, Abuja, restrained the PDP from conducting the gubernatorial primary in the state as scheduled on 19 November.

The PDP’s Acting National Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje and the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), however, defied the Court Order and conducted the Primary election as scheduled.

Consequently, Dickson, a member of the House of Representatives, who represents Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency, emerged winner, after polling 361 of the 411 votes cast at the election.

The judge had ordered the PDP to stay action on the primary election, pending the determination of the suit filed by Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), on behalf of Gov. Temipre Sylva.

The governor, an aspirant in the PDP’s 2012 gubernatorial primary, also wanted the court to hold that his victory at the party’s gubernatorial primary, held in January 2011, remained valid.

The CNPP described as unfortunate the fact that Dickson, a lawmaker, should partake in such an abuse of the law.

“His act was undemocratic and unconstitutional and should not be tolerated by the House.

“We find it difficult to understand why a custodian of the Law, like Dickson, would make a mockery of a Court order by disregarding it,” the statement said.

According to the CNPP, the lawmakers must not be seen to commend or tolerate Dickson’s action, stressing that the world was watching.

It noted that INEC, through the boycott, demonstrated its willingness to be a responsible umpire.

“It is also noteworthy to commend some members of the PDP for also staying away from the purported primary,” the statement added.