NNPP Tasks INEC to Conduct Credible Polls in Bayelsa, Kogi, Imo

Juliet Akoje in Abuja. 

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) yesterday challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct credible elections in the forthcoming governorship elections in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo States. 

NNPP also tasked the INEC to adequately test-run the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) to avoid what he called awkward story of glitches, hitches and manipulations that characterised the 2023 general election.’

NNPP’s National Publicity Secretary, Agbo Major made the remarks at a news conference in Abuja yesterday.

At the news conference, Major explained that NNPP demanded free, fair, credible, transparent, inclusive and peaceful governorship elections in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa States.

He added that the INEC should provide a free playing field to all political parties and their candidates participating in the polls and ensure the people’s mandates are respected. 

“The electoral umpire should adequately test-run its bimodal voters accreditation system to avoid the awkward story of glitches, hitches and manipulations that characterised the 2023 general election leading to numerous petitions at various election petition tribunals across the country challenging the outcome of the polls”

“Every vote matters and should be counted and count in the overall results. This is the only way to consolidate the nation’s frail democracy and reaffirms Nigerians’ confidence in the electoral process”

The national publicity secretary furthermore said the National Working Committee had directed aggrieved members who suspended the Imo State chairman, Charles Duruimo to rescind their action.

Major explained that the national leadership of the party led by Alhaji Abba Kawu-Ali had stepped into the matter to amicably resolve it.

“Recently, there is a leadership disagreement in the Imo State Chapter of our great party in which the state chairman, Chief Charles Duruimo was purportedly suspended by aggrieved officers in the State over alleged anti-party activities.

“Duruimo dismissed his removal, stating that his leadership had earlier suspended the officers and members involved in the plot to sack him”

“The national leadership of the party led by Alhaji Abba Kawu-Ali has stepped into the matter with a view to amicably resolving it in the interest of the party and the good people of Imo State who desire a new and better Nigeria on the platform of NNPP.

“Accordingly, the National Working Committee directs that status quo should be maintained in the Imo State Chapter Executive led by Chief Charles Duruimo”

“All actions taken by the two sides in the leadership disagreement are null and void, and of no effect in running the affairs of the party in Imo State. The affected officers of the party in Imo State did not explore the appropriate channel of communication and procedure in handling the dispute in line with the clear provisions of NNPP’s constitution”

He, however, said: “In the next few days, the Imo State Executive will be invited to Abuja to firmly resolve the matter and move the party forward. The need for peace, unity, teamwork and synergy in running the affairs of the party in Imo State cannot be overemphasised as we prepare for the November 2023 governorship election in the State.”

“NNPP is poised to win Imo State gubernatorial poll and will not allow an intra party squabble to distract it from winning the State, thus expand its frontiers in the nation’s democratic space.

“Having fielded credible, competent and resourceful candidates in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo States, NNPP is equally resolute in winning the two states,” the national publicity secretary said.