CODE OF CONDUCT FOR PARTIES: PDP, 8 others snub INEC

HeadlinesMar 9, 2011
   
By BEN AGANDE

ABUJA – THE ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday led eight other smaller parties to shun the signing of the Code of Conduct for political parties, jointly drafted by the Independent National Electoral commission, INEC, and the parties.

From left: Vice President, Namadi Sambo; President Goodluck Jonathan; Peoples Democaratic Party, PDP Acting National Chairman, Haliru Bello, and former PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, at the PDP presidential campaign rally in Benin City, Edo State, yesterday.
Although PDP’s National Secretary, Abubakar Baraje, was in attendance at yesterday’s ceremony, he did not give any reason for not signing the document.
The other parties that refused to sign the code include African Renaissance Party, ARP; Fresh Party, and Social Democratic Mega Party.
Vanguard, however, gathered that the leadership of the party was studying the Code in order to make a more informed decision.
Professor Attahiru Jega, who presided over the meeting at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, however, expressed concern at the persistent barring of opposition politicians by state governments to hold rallies, saying it did not portend well for the polity.
Stressing the need for political parties and politicians to assist the commission in ensuring the conduct of free, fair and credible election by abiding by the rules of the games, Jega said: “I must say that there are concerns over utterances and conduct of some of the participants in the process. I want to say that this is unfortunate and we must do everything to prevent reoccurrence.
Conduct of participants
“When we hear certain governors are banning other political parties from campaigning in their states, this calls for serious concern and does not augur well for the success of our democracy and we ask for restraints and tact. Similarly, when we read reports about activities in certain states where banners and posters of opponents are pulled down; this is a very serious concern which has to be addressed.
“We have also read of reports of some media not giving coverage to campaign of opposition parties; we have heard for example that some parties wanted to pay but were told that other political parties had booked for the entire period of campaign; this type of attitude will not augur well for level playing ground.”
Jega told leaders of the political parties that it was necessary “in the next few weeks remaining that we bring new attitude and mind set for the respect of rule of law and the signing of code of conduct would add value to the moral persuasion of all.”
Yesterday’s ceremony was not without its drama as Chairman of the Labour Party, Chief Dan Anyanwu, threatened not to sign the document and suspend further cooperation with the commission if it failed to carry political parties along in its plans for the 2011 elections.
Labour party’s drama
He eventually agreed to sign claiming that Prof. Attahiru Jega had assured the party that all issues it had raised would be addressed in due course.
At the meeting of the commission with political parties at the Tinapa Resort in Cross River State, the parties made an undertaking that if 50 per cent of the registered political parties signed the code of Conduct, it would be binding on all other political parties. At press time, 49 parties had signed the code of conduct with all the major political parties except the PDP signing.
Some of the provisions contained in the Code of Conduct for Political Parties include commitment by all the political parties, their leaders and members ‘to adhere to all existing laws, rules and regulations pertaining to elections as well as the provisions of extant constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’.
The code also provides that all political parties shall provide equal opportunities to all qualified persons to participate in electoral activities and ‘shall ensure and practice internal party democracy by adhering strictly to the provisions of the parties’ constitution in the election or selection of their officers at various levels.
Political parties are also expected to desist from engaging in ‘violent activities or intimidation of any kind’ while assisting security agencies and electoral officials in apprehending and sanctioning their members who attempt to, or flout the provisions of the code, the Electoral Act and or INEC Electoral guidelines.
On the issue of campaign, the Code provides that “all political parties shall take necessary steps to coordinate their campaign activities in such a way as to avoid holding rallies, meetings, marches or demonstrations close to one another at the same time” adding that “whenever the date, venue or timing of any such activities of different political parties clashes, their representatives will meet, in the presence of law enforcement agencies, to resolve the issue amicably, without resort to intimidation, force or violence.”
Instructions to members on election day
On election day issue, the Code provides amongst others that “every party shall instruct its members and supporters that no weapon or any object that can be used to cause injury shall be brought to the polling station, and that no party attire, colours, symbols, emblems or other insignia shall be worn to a polling station on election day.”
The code further provides that “Political Parties, candidates, party members and supporters shall accept the official results as certified by INEC as Free and Fair, or challenge the results in court,” adding that “political parties shall endeavour to send congratulatory messages to their opponents who are announced as duly elected.”
Meanwhile mixed reactions have continued to trail the code of conduct. While some party chieftains said in Lagos that the code was belated as some of its components were already being violated, others lauded the electoral body for coming up with the code.
National Chairman of KOWA Party, Alhaji Umar Kumshe, described the code as a welcome development, adding that it would regulate the conducts of political parties.
He said: “Even though some parties have already violated the laws, it is a welcomed development and it will ensure that our democracy is more realistic.”
Kumshe, however, said his party had signed the code of conduct, urging other political parties to subscribe to it.
Similarly, the National Secretary of the Democratic Peoples Alliance, DPA, Mr. Sam Onimisi, described the code as a good development, noting: “It is a very good development especially given the fact that the parties gave the code of conduct to themselves which means they are morally bound to go by it.”
Infraction of the code
Onimisi said INEC has the authority to enforce any infraction of the code, adding that the code of conduct had been in existence since 2006 and that INEC and the political parties only reviewed it.
He said: “It is not a new thing actually. It has been in existence since 2006 and INEC and the political parties thought it will be wise to review it.”
National Chairman, Peoples Progressive Party, PPP, Mr. Damian Ogbonna, criticised the code, saying it was of no significance to the political parties, adding: “The code of conduct is useless as far as I know because party chairmen are not taking it very seriously and it is not enforceable.”
Ogbonna said the code of conduct is more or less INEC playing to the gallery, saying it has no substance, adding: “So whether the parties sign it or do not sign it, it has no impact because it is useless.”

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