Information available to 247ureports.com through sources within the power corridors in Abuja indicate that all is not well between the President of the federal republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebelemi Jonathan and the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC], Prof Attahiru Jega following a rebuff by the INEC chairman of the President yesterday [Saturday January 14, 2012] over the Bayelsa guubernatorial exercise slated for February 2012.
The INEC recently had released thirty five [35] names of cleared candidate toparticipate in the coming gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa State scheduled for February 13, 2012 -of which the name of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] candidate was not included in the list of eligible candidates. The INEC explained it refrained from releasing the name of a PDP candidate because the matter was still under litigation.
But as gathered through a source within the INEC at the Maitama Office in Abuja, the President was uneasy with the exclusion of the PDP candidate from the list. President Jonathan, according to reports, is said to be coronating his choice candidate to fly the PDP banner for the gubernatorial tussle in February 13, 2012- a house of representative member by the name Hon. Dickson.
Through the President’s uneasiness, he reached out to the INEC chairman to impress on him the need to overlook the pending litigation at the Supreme Courts – and include the name of his choice candidate as the PDP candidate. A source indicates that the INEC chairman may have been made offers by the presidency in return for the inclusion of Hon Dickson’s name – of which the source revealed that the INEC chairman reacted out of character in a manner that appear unpleasant to the President.
“The Chairman rebuffed the President” stated the source as he continued to add that the INEC chairman pleasantly warned the President to not ‘repeat’ the request to subvert due process – unless he submits his resignation.
The Supreme Court is expected to rule of the case seating before it – to determine who the real PDP candidate should be – by the end of January 2012.
247ureports.com contacted the INEC through its public affiars office for a comment. The head of the public affair department, Mr. Emmanuel Umenger told our correspondent that “my chairman can not be pressured. Nobody can pressure my chairman. I can assure you that”.
Stay tuned.
