The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has removed the logo and symbol of the All Progressives Congress (APC) among the political parties contesting in the December 5, 2020, senatorial by-election in Bayelsa West senatorial district.
The list of parties participating in the election published on Thursday at the INEC office in Yenagoa had only 12 political parties and their candidates, excluding APC and its candidate, Chief Peremobowei Ebebi.
The Head, INEC’s Voter Education and Publicity, Mr Wilfred Ifogah, said the exclusion of APC and its candidate was in compliance with the Federal High Court judgement in suits No FHC/YAN/CS/60/2020 and FHC/YAN/CS/66/2020 which restrained the INEC from including the name and logo of the candidate of APC in Bayelsa West senatorial district, Chief Peremobowei Ebebi.
He said: “The by-election scheduled for December 5, 2020, will feature only 12 political parties qualified to participate excluding APC.”
The Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa had on November 3, 2020, disqualified the APC candidate, Peremobowei Ebebi, from the contest over discrepancies in academic qualification and multiple dates of birth in his voters’ card.
Though APC in the state said it had appealed the judgement, but the party faithful in the state were shocked to notice that INEC had already complied with the judgement.
When contacted, the state Secretary of APC, Alabo Martins, said the party was not aware of the development.
With the disqualification of APC, the immediate past governor of the state, Henry Seriake Dickson, who is the candidate of PDP in Bayelsa West may be having a smooth ride to clinch the senatorial seat.
