Bayelsa party splits over shift of guber polls .

Guardian

8 February 2012

Bayelsa party splits over shift of guber polls .

ANOTHER battle of wits looms between loyalists of the embattled former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva and President Goodluck Jonathan over pressure on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the February 11 governorship election due to the death last month, of the standard-bearer of the Mega Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP).

The battle, according to reports, had already split the ranks of the MPPP. While some MPPP national executive members are believed to be loyal to the President and insist that the death of the governorship candidate would not make any difference and a replacement not needed, other members, including National Vice Chairman (North-Central Zone), Capt. Isa Alushi (rtd), the National Vice Chairman (North-East Zone), Alhaji Tukur Bichi, the National Vice Chairman, (North-West Zone), Alhaji Mustapha Haruna and the National Vice Chairman (South-South Zone), Mr. Efosa Edoma, insisted that the INEC must respect the provisions of Section 36 of the Electoral Act 2010.

In a letter to the INEC and dated February 3, the National Chairman of MPPP, Alhaji Rasheed Shitta-Bey and four other national executive members, said although anomalies were earlier noticed in the party’s correspondence with the commission, the party’s position is clear on the issue of 60 days needed for the replacement of candidates for elections.