Abuja — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday wielded the big stick as it cancelled the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) congresses held in 8 states of the federation. The affected states according to the CPS include Adamawa, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo and Yobe states.

INEC explained that it had no option than to cancel the results of the congresses in the affected states because they fell below acceptable standards.

The electoral body insisted that congresses in those states did not conform with the provisions of the electoral Act. It said there were no free and fair elections in those states.

Speaking with Saturday Vanguard in his office, the Chief press Secretary to the commission, Mr.Andy Ezeani disclosed that the states have been asked not to constitute their respective executives.

The implication of this, according to Mr.Ezeani is that only statutory or authomatic delegates from the affected states, would be allowed to attend the national convention today.

In this category of automatic delegates are, the governor and his deputy, Ministers from the affected states, commissioners,10 Special assistants and advisers.

Also on this list are elected chairmen of the various local government councils in the affected states.

One of the officials in the commission that just returned from monitoring the congresses in some states of the federation spoken to by Vanguard,had hinted of the commissions intention to take punitive action against some states for their obvious disregard for the rule of law in the conduct of their congress.

"What we saw in the different states was an embarrassment, there was no attempt to conduct free and fair elections in the selection of candidates for the congresses they conducted. We saw angry aspirants who were disenfranchised and wanted to cause problem for everybody".

"If you talk of consensus candidates, the other aspirants have a right to agree to the candidature of such a person, but that was not the case, as the other aspirants were obviously angry at the process that led to the choice of the so-called consensus candidate the commission will definitely take action".