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AD convention: Count us out � INEC
Yusuf Alli, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission on Sunday washed its hands off plans by the Chief Bisi Akande-led faction of the Alliance for Democracy to hold a national convention of the party in Lagos on Wednesday.
Besides, the electoral body refuted claims that it gave a directive approving the convention.
However, the National Commissioner of INEC in charge of Publicity, Mr. Setley Daze, who spoke with our correspondent in Abuja, explained that the commission�s October 31, 2004 deadline for the crisis-ridden AD to put its house in order remained unchanged.
He said, �Our position is that there is only one AD. There should be only one AD and one convention. We have said that we will not deal with any faction of the AD; we stand by that decision. We cannot go to two places to monitor conventions, there should be only one convention.�
Asked if INEC gave the Akande faction the permission to conduct its national convention, Daze said, �I am not aware of that. We have not given any group directive. To the best of my knowledge, INEC is still studying the situation.
�We have to follow the law, (because) we will not engage in anything that is illegal. We will follow the law in relating with AD. (But) we stand by the October 31, 2004 deadline to AD to hold its national convention.�
Following repeated abortive attempts to resolve the AD crisis by some major stakeholders, the Akande and Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa factions, stepped up moves to ensure recognition for themselves using different means.
While the Akande faction favoured a fresh national convention, being one of the four options recommended by INEC on February 11, 2004, the Akinfenwa group rejected this approach, claiming that it was susceptible to manipulation by vested interests with an eye on the 2007 presidency.
But a highly placed source at INEC, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that the electoral body was uncertain about the next step to take against AD if the intransigence of its members persisted beyond October.
The source said, �At present, we have not taken a decision on what will be the fate of AD as from October 31, 2004. We are consulting and considering suggestions. We are also hopeful that the AD will put its house in order before the deadline.�
Asked if any of the factions had approached INEC to hold its convention, the source said, �Only Akande faction met a Committee of INEC in charge of parties which is headed by a National Commissioner, Dr. Ishmael Igbani. They came to demand approval of INEC to hold AD national convention but the Committee rejected their request and it only advised them to go and harmonise.
�The Committee also made it clear, that if Akinfenwa�s faction also requested for audience it would grant it and maintain the same position that a faction cannot hold a national convention. The factional leaders that came were desperate to get a go-ahead from INEC, but we stood our ground.�
INEC had last Tuesday, asked AD to resolve its crisis or risk severance of ties with it.
When our correspondent sought the view of Akande on INEC�s position on Sunday night, the former Osun State governor said, �I�m farther away from the activities of AD than you are. I only know that the 36 state chairmen and the national convention committee have been meeting.
�But I don�t know the outcome of their meetings. The only things I know are the ones I read in the newspapers. So, I may not be able to help you.�
The PUNCH, Monday, September 27, 2004
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