National Liberal Party leader Charles Jeffers is poised to stand for election in ex-Premier David Saul's Devonshire South seat.

The NLP is expected to announce their candidate for the by-election at the start of next week.

Yesterday, Mr. Jeffers refused to confirm or deny that he would put himself up for the by-election, likely to be held around the end of the first week in May.

But he said: "It's interesting to meet the number of people who were admitted United Bermuda Party supporters and have been frustrated because they had no real option.

"A lot of people have approached me and said `if you are going to run down here, we will sit down and talk with you'.'' Mr. Jeffers has twice ran for the House of Assembly -- in 1983 for the PLP and in 1985 for the party he went on to lead.

The last elected NLP representative was former chairman Gilbert Darrell, who lost his Hamilton East seat in the election of October, 1993.

Mr. Jeffers -- who has already said the party will not contest the other vacancy, Sir John Swan's Paget East seat -- admitted that a good showing in Devonshire South and the next election was vital to the party's future.

And he said the only thing that made "a safe seat'' was voter apathy and the complacency of the ruling UBP and Opposition Progressive Labour Party.

Mr. Jeffers said: "There are a lot of areas which are safe because the UBP and the PLP have not put up serious candidates. People have made an effort, but it's not the same when you make an effort and think you can win.

"Devonshire is an area which can be won -- it will take a lot of hard work convincing people, but that is what it takes.'' Mr. Jeffers added that the surprise resignation of Dr. Saul and the appointment of Pamela Gordon as Premier was good news for the NLP because it would put back the date of the next election perhaps as far as the winter.

He said: "The new Premier has to have time to get things together -- and it gives us a chance to do some work.'' And he admitted: "We have to have a good showing because if we don't it could spell the end for us. It isn't necessary to win, but we have to make a good showing.'' Mr. Jeffers added that he hoped voters in Devonshire South -- and at the next election -- would use their votes.

He said: "It's imperative that people vote if they're unhappy with the candidate or unhappy with the party representing them. Abstaining from voting is not sending a clear message. Voting for another candidate is sending a clear message.

"Devonshire South is an opportunity for people to test the NLP. One seat in the House is not going to change the Government.

"It's an opportunity to see what kind of showing and what issues we bring to the House before an election.'' The PLP have yet to decide whether to run in both Devonshire South and Paget or on who their candidates might be.

Already declared for Devonshire South are dairy chief Michael Dunkley and restaurateur Joseph Gibbons, who will fight it out for the UBP nomination in an April 17 primary.