A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Bode George, has criticised the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission to exclude the PDP, Labour Party and African Democratic Congress from the forthcoming Rivers State House of Assembly by-election.
George described the development as disturbing and demanded clarification from the electoral body on the grounds for barring the parties from participating in the poll scheduled for February 21.
INEC had earlier announced that the three political parties would not take part in the by-election, citing reasons it said informed the decision, a move that has generated reactions among political stakeholders.
Reacting to the development, the former PDP Deputy National Chairman stressed the need for transparency and strict adherence to established electoral procedures in the conduct of elections across the country.
He questioned the basis for disqualifying major political parties, insisting that Nigerians deserve a clear explanation of the criteria adopted by the commission in arriving at its decision.
According to him, political parties remain central to democratic governance and must be given equal opportunity to participate in elections in accordance with the law.
The elder statesman also urged electoral authorities and political actors to draw lessons from past political experiences in Nigeria to avoid actions capable of undermining democratic institutions.
George further called on relevant stakeholders to promote fairness, national cohesion and public confidence in the electoral process through decisions that strengthen democracy.
