Posted by By FEMI FOLARANMI, Yenagoa on
The Action Congress (AC) has indicated that it won't challenge the results of the governorship re-run election in the state won by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Action Congress (AC) has indicated that it won't challenge the results of the governorship re-run election in the state won by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The party also commended the dissolution of the state executive council.
In a statement signed by Miriki Ebikibina, the party stated that the dissolution vindicates the earlier position of the party which demanded for a total overhauling of the entire cabinet if transparency, good governance and the Bayelsa state project must be moved forward.
The party, in a press briefing addressed by its Chairman, Mr. Diepreye Dede, explained that after a stakeholders' meeting which had in attendance the flag-bearer of the party, Prince Ebitimi Amgbare, and his deputy, Mrs. Maria Ebikake, it has decided to allow the result to stand.
It, however, added that the position of the party does not mean it is satisfied with the conduct of the election, which, according to it, was still characterized by irregularities, but that it has achieved its mission of provoking a political consciousness in the people of the state.
The statement reads in part: 'It is also of note that the recent deployment of INEC staff from more than five states with the deployment of national officers of INEC from other states, security officers, local and international observers, media houses, among others, were a manifestation of not only conducting a peaceful, fair and credible election but doing it right.
'Though the exercise was peaceful with low turnout recorded in all the eight local government areas visited by the state monitoring team of the party, the exercise, however, was characterized with various forms of electoral malpractices, such as snatching of election materials, multiple thumb printing, inducement, intimidation, connivance of INEC staff to defraud the electioneering system as was manifested in the total cancellation of Kolokuma/ Opokuma and some units in Ekeremor Local Government Area respectively, clearly shows that INEC is still far from conducting a credible election.
'Be that as it may, the party has achieved a political consciousness and mark. For once, the use of Government House, as witnessed in previous elections, as an annex of INEC office has been checkmated, as all materials meant for the exercise were sent to the field, where most of the irregularities were recorded."
The party noted that with the conduct of the elections, 'it is now time for all patriotic Bayelsans to put aside all our political differences and together work toward achieving the great potential of taking Bayelsa to the next level."
The party maintained that with this position, it would not abandon its role as a credible opposition and alternative to the PDP, stressing it would repositioned to meet the tasks and challenges of contributing positively to the growth and development of the state.
It also called for the immediate withdrawal of the Joint Military Task Force in the state, adding that the peaceful conduct of the re-run elections is an indication that Bayelsans love one another and further militarization is unjustifiable.