AC Criticises INEC, Senate President Over Defectors

The Action Congress (AC) has described INEC as a ‘double-faced Janus’ for failing to act against the illegality being perpetrated by elected lawmakers and governors who are defecting to other parties.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also slammed Senate President David Mark over his comments when the issue came up at the Senate on Tuesday, saying the published comments fell far short of what is expected of a man occupying such a high post..

“When 14 members of the Plateau House of Assembly decamped from the PDP to the AC just a little over two years ago, INEC wasted no time in declaring their seats vacant. Now, 18 members of the Bauchi House of Assembly have decamped from the ANPP to the PDP and INEC has suddenly gone deaf and dumb. Yet, the Constitution is clear on what should happen when such defections happen: The lawmakers should lose their seats!

“While the Constitution may be silent on the case of defecting State Governors, the Supreme Court ruling in the case of Rotimi Amaechi was clear in affirming the fact that parties, not just candidates, are the ones elected. That means Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi should automatically cease to be governor the moment he decamped from the ANPP to the PDP.

“Is anyone still in doubt now that this INEC is an arm of the PDP, as we have said repeatedly? ‘’AC queried.

The party said it is even more unfortunate that the heads of the executive and legislative arms of government are the ones leading the pack of those breaching the laws of the land in the name of defection.

“President Yar’Adua was in Bauchi to personally receive Gov. Yuguda into the fold of the PDP, even when he knew clearly that the Governor was acting illegally. We are also shocked that the same President, who has sent a bill to the National Assembly to prohibit defection, is the same one encouraging it. What does one make of this inconsistency on the part of the President of Africa‘s most populous and influential nation?’’ AC asked.

The party also expressed shock that Senate President Mark, who was in Jos to receive Dariye and others, including AC Senator Satty Gogwin, into the camp of the PDP, did not know or pretend not to know he was simply cheering illegality and political brigandage, not to talk of the fact that such action violates the sanctity of his office.

“The same Senate President who helped welcome Senator Gogwin and co to the PDP also presided over the issue of his defection when it was tabled by the AC leader in the Senate, Dr. Mamora. Did he (Mark) not see the conflict of interest in his actions? Did he not sound arrogant and contemptuous of his office in trying to justify the defection and dispute the fact that there is no faction in the AC? Is he now a member of INEC to be so sure there is a faction in the AC to warrant Gogwin’s defection?

“We are not surprised that Senator Mark could be so pedestrian in handling such a serious, Constitutional issue. After all, he has never hidden his disdain for democracy, his contempt for Nigerians, whom he once said do not deserve to own telephones because phones are not for the poor, and his knack for careless statements, including that a Sergeant in the army is better than a University graduate!’’ AC said.

The party said all Nigerians must be outraged and be willing to speak out in condemnation of the blatant rape of the Constitution being carried out by the PDP and expressly encouraged by supposed political leaders, including President Yar’Adua and Senator Mark.

Paraphrasing a timeless quote, AC said all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men - and women - do nothing!