Posted by By FRANCIS AWOWOLE-BROWNE and JAMES OJO, Abuja on
Opposition parties under the platform of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has alerted of a ground design by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cause confusion again in the scheduled governorship election in Kogi State to pave the way for the emergence of the PDP candidate.
•As PDP aspirant warns against imposition
Opposition parties under the platform of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has alerted of a ground design by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cause confusion again in the scheduled governorship election in Kogi State to pave the way for the emergence of the PDP candidate.
It therefore warned that Professor Maurice Iwu be stopped from meddling in political parties affairs with his utterances concerning the election.
National Secretary of CNPP, Chief Willy Ezugwu told newsmen in Abuja yesterday that the INEC had started giving jaundiced expression as to which party and which candidate should contest the forthcoming election in the state.
The Conference scribe argued that it was not for the INEC to dictate who should contest or which party should field candidate, since the court had ruled that fresh election be conducted, pointing out that the only business INEC has is to conduct a free and fair election, stressing that parties and candidates that should contest is beyond its brief.
'This is how the INEC under Iwu muddled up everything during last elections with its confusing positions all in an attempt to create confusion in favour of PDP, the INEC is embarking on the same journey in Kogi by telling the people which party and candidates can contest.
'INEC has no business interpreting the court ruling, its very clear conduct another election in Kogi, that's all, how the parties conduct themselves is not INEC business, Prof. Iwu should be warned not to create another confusion that may result in the outcome of the election being contested in court," he warned.
Ezugwu maintained that if CNPP had its way, it would not want the present INEC to conduct the election, having shown that it was incapable of conducting any free and fair elections judging by the myriads of cancellations that had been pronounced by the courts.
Meanwhile, a PDP national chairmanship aspirant, Prince Benjamin Benedict Apugo from Abia State has cautioned against any attempt to impose a candidate on the party by a clique, saying that it will spell doom for the party.
Apugo who disclosed during an interaction with journalists in Abuja said that removing the influence of ‘God fatherism', he was sure of becoming the next national chairman of the party.
For the interest of the party, he begged that candidates should be allowed to sell themselves instead of hiding under one influence without having anything to offer the party.
'I aspire to be the chairman of our great party because I want to reposition it as the foremost political party in the black race.
'I joined the race so as to promote democratic principles and ensure that equity, justice and rule of law are given premium in the national scheme of affairs.
'My vision in aspiring to be the national chairman of our great party is to be in a position to place it on the objectives of its founding fathers.
A party that was envisioned to provide credible leadership to Nigerians at all levels of democratic governance without fear or favour and in such an all-inclusive manner as to provide accommodation for all," he said.
Prince Apogu who claimed to be one of the founding fathers of PDP and member of the National Working Committee, Finance committee and National Board of Trustee, stated that he had gathered enough experience to take the party to the next level.
He said that he came to Abuja to consult with party members and also express his willingness to contest the chairmanship position of the party. Apogu added that he was propelled by an honest and sincere intention to join the race, hoping that a level playing ground would be created for all aspirants from the South East where the post has been zoned to.
The aspirant said that everything must be done to discourage activities of selfish persons who want to impose a candidate on the party, expressing expectations for the emergence of a new leadership team that would bring those that were schemed out back into the PDP fold.