THISDAYonline

A group, the Defenders of Democracy in Nigeria (DDN), has called on the Independent Nation-al Electoral Commissioner in charge of political parties, Alhaji Shehu Musa to justify his continued opposition to the election of Senator Adolphus Wabara even after the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) senatorial candidate, Elder Dan Imo had withdrawn the petition contesting the Abia South senatorial election.

A statement jointly signed by Alhaji Ibrahim Dan Baba and Chief Joel Akinsola, National President and National Secretary respectively, the group said there appeared to be more to Musa's opposition.

But INEC has insisted that its position remains that the court should decide on the matter to avoid setting a dangerous precedent.

"You cannot cry more than the bereaved. Elder Dan Imo, the ANPP senatorial candidate, has withdrawn his petition against the election of Chief Wabara who by God's Grace is now the Senate President. What else does Shehu Musa want?" the statement asked.

The group noted that the "action of Shehu Musa is like a blackmail on the Senate President."

It called on INEC to respect the wishes of Nigerians.

But a source at INEC earlier told newsmen that its mission in court was to set the necessary precedent and safeguard the integrity of the electoral system.

Though the commission refused to comment officially, the source said, "no official can comment on this Wabara matter again," since "every thing is in the court."

A new twist was introduced into the raging controversy over who won the Abia South senatorial election when Imo declared that he never won any election in the first instance.