The Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission (BYSIEC) on
Thursday applauded the ruling of a Bayelsa State High Court ordering the
conduct of local government elections in the state.
BYSIEC said that the judgment has vindicated the commion’s
resolve to conduct local government elections in the eight local governments in
Bayelsa on Aug. 10.
Reacting to the court
ruling, Commissioner, Legal Services in BYSIEC, Barr. Marshal Abraham said that
the decision of the court was a welcome development.
Abraham noted that the
decision of the court has conferred legal competence on the commission to carry
on with processes of the council elections slated for Aug. 10 emphasizing that
the date remains sacrosanct.
Abraham equally explained
that an expate order granted some persons by an Abuja High Court on conduct of
the elections for seven days on June 23 had since lapsed
He said that with the
substantive judgement delivered in Yenagoa on Wednesday; there is no legal
constraint in conducting the Aug 10 local government elections in Bayelsa
State.
A High Court sitting
in Yenagoa, presided over by Justice Doris Adokeme on
Wednesday ruled for out of Court settlement terms by parties in a suit
instituted against The Governor of Bayelsa; BYSIEC; The Bayelsa Government; and
The State Attorney General by Accord Party and nine others.
The petitioners,
including Mr. Victor Fisi, State Chairman of Accord Party were among other
things praying the court to declare that: the failure and refusal to conduct
local government council elections is unlawful.
They also averred that
appointment of local government caretaker committees is illegal, null and void.
They asked the court for
an order setting aside the appointments of Local Government Caretaker
Committees; and an injunction restraining the defendants from withdrawing,
using spending or allocating funds of the local government councils.
The parties in the case mutually agreed to ask the
court to grant "An order directing the defendants to immediately conduct
the said local government council elections in Bayelsa state having earlier
agreed to conduct it.
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