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Tag: Conference of Nigeria Political Parties.CNPP

  • Election Postponement: Plot to enthrone Interim Government – CNPP

    The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) on Saturday described inconsistences associated the preparations for the 2019 generations as supervised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as “part of a deliberate plot by anti-democratic forces to derail Nigerian democracy and enthrone an interim government in the country.”

    Reacting to the postponement of the February 16, 2019 presidential and federal legislative polls by INEC, the CNPP in a statement by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu wondered why “an election that took the electoral umpire four years to prepare for would be postponed at eleventh hour despite assurances by the Commission that it was ready for the elections.

    “Before now, there has been subtle mussing about plans by some forces to enthrone an Interim Government on the country and it is becoming obvious that such forces have thrown their evil spanners into the democratic electoral process to have a reason to carry out their clandestine agenda.

    “These forces, we suspect, are the same that have carried out systematic arson that led to the destruction of electoral materials and Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) at different parts of the country few days to the election and the killings in Kaduna State on the eve of the election.

    “As an umbrella body of all registered political parties and associations in the country, we compelled to alert the nation and urge well-meaning Nigerians and lovers of democracy around the world that the postponement of the election for February 16, 2019 may not have happened as a mere logistics problems as adduced by INEC.

    “Even when the rumour of plans to postpone the polls strongly permeated the air days to the planned election date, the electoral umpire reiterated its readiness to go ahead with the exercise as scheduled, we are shocked that INEC suddenly postponed the election about five hours to time of commencement.

    “The ruling party and the INEC should be held accountable should our fears come to materialization as there might be another postponement of the rescheduled February 23 national elections.

    “We therefore call on the international communities and all election observers to be on the lookout as discovery of already thump-printed ballot papers and written result summary for an election that was yet to take place are part of efforts to rig and cause confusion and prepare grounds for an interim government to be foisted on the country.

    “The CNPP and other democratic watchdogs will continue to painstaking interrogate the electoral process with a view to exposing manipulations and electoral fraud capable of marring our hard-earned democracy”, the CNPP said.

     

     

  • ‘Let’s give INEC, FG benefit of doubt’

    Ex-Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Balarabe Musa on Saturday expressed shock over the postponement of the 2019 general elections, but advised that for the nation to further enjoy peace, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Federal Government should be given a benefit of doubt.

    Musa also explained that INEC and the security operatives are over stretched to guarantee free, fair and credible elections.

    He warned that any other postponement of elections date by INEC will cause crisis and both the electoral body and government will lose credibility.

    INEC had announced the postponement a few hours to the commencement of the February 16 presidential and National Assembly polls.

    Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, while announcing the postponement in Abuja, attributed the step to “overwhelming logistics and operational challenges.”

    The Commission fixed February 23 and March 9 as new dates for the presidential and National Assembly elections; and the governorship.

    Read Also: Why we postponed polls, by INEC

    Reacting to the postponement of the elections through a telephone conversation with our correspondent in Abuja, Musa who is also the Chairman of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), said: “we have to give the benefit of doubt to INEC and the Federal Government. The feeling is that the institutions connected with the elections are not prepared for a free, fair, peaceful and credible elections. These institutions are the Federal Government itself, INEC, security agencies and the political parties.

    “INEC and the security services are over stretched. Their capacity for a free, fair and transparent election which should be peaceful and lead to a legitimate government is over stretched.

    “In the case of the political parties, it is irrelevant because as far as we are concerned we know that Nigerian political parties in general are irrelevant to a democratic development in the country. For example we have two major political parties in the country and we have 89 others that oppose to this two.

    “The 89 up until now have not been able to come together and produce an alternative. And we are now talking of peaceful development. Why can’t we do it. We can’t unite produce a third alternative.

    “Now with this situation, if we hold the election as planned there is the risk of anarchy and unnecessary loss of lives and property. It is maintenance of order, we have to give the benefit of doubt to government and INEC that their decision is genuine. Weather it is so or not we have to be briefed by subsequent events. For instance if they try to shift the election again then we will suspect that there is another negative objective.

    “Now the negative state of the nation shows us that really the postponement of the election may be genuine.”

     

  • NBC closure of radio station saved Ekiti from chaos, says CNPP

    …. Says Fayose’s action ‘treasonable’

    The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Ekiti State Chapter, has berated Governor Ayo Fayose for alleged breach of Electoral Act during the collation of results of Saturday’s governorship poll.

    The group condemned Fayose for using the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES) to declare the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola as ‘winner’ of the election while the coalition was ongoing.

    In a statement by its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olu Akomolafe, the CNPP praised the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for saving Ekiti from being thrown into chaos and anarchy.

    Read Also:APC elders to Fayemi: give Ekiti people good governance

    Rising from a meeting on Friday where the governorship election was reviewed, the CNPP also praised President Muhammadu Buhari for allowing the conduct of free, fair and credible poll.

    “The NBC saved Ekiti State from being thrown into chaos and anarchy by shutting down the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State where the governor had gone on air to illegally declare the PDP candidate as winner of the poll.

    “This noble act of NBC stopped the incitement of the members of the public by the governor. Only God knows what would have happened thereafter but the NBC intervention saved the day,” Akomolafe said.

    The CNPP congratulated the governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on his victory in the July 14 governorship election.

    Describing Fayemi’s victory as well deserved, the body commended him for extending a hand of fellowship to other candidates with whom he contested the governorship seat.

    The, CNPP appealed to candidates who lost to Fayemi to give peace a chance and allow peace to reign in Ekiti.

    The group appealed to the Federal Government to come to the aid of the incoming government to defray the backlog of workers’ salaries and pensioners’ benefits.

    It said the appeal became necessary owing to what it called “the huge debt of N117 million” incurred by the outgoing administration as recently released by the Debt Management office (DMO).

    The CNPP hailed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for prompt deployment of personnel and electoral materials to all the 2,195 polling units.

    The CNPP said INEC’s impartiality was largely responsible for the peaceful conduct of the election.

    In a related development, an interest group, the Committee for the Protection of Peoples Mandate (CPPM) has described Fayose’s action of pronouncing his deputy winner on air while collation was going on as “treasonable.”

    The CPPM Coordinator, Mr. Nelson Ekujumi, expressed dismay that “Fayose has repeatedly denigrated and brought public opprobrium upon the exalted office of the governor by his conduct and utterances.”

    Ekujumi said Fayose’s outburst on the radio on the night of the Election Day was full of malicious and unsubstantiated allegations against all institutions of state with the intent to provoke election violence.

    He said: “According to the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the only body charged with the responsibility for the conduct and announcement of the results of elections in Nigeria is the electoral umpire, INEC or the states independent electoral commissions.

    “In tandem with his character of utter disdain and disrespect for the responsibility, decorum of office of the governor and violations of his oath of allegiance to the constitution of Nigeria, Mr. Ayodele Fayose usurped the constitutional powers of INEC by declaring the results of the 2018 Ekiti state gubernatorial election on the Ekiti state television and radio stations and has thus committed an act of treason by attempting to overthrow a legitimately elected government
    at the polls by his action.

    “We must however commend the National Broadcasting Commission (NBS) for acting swiftly and responsibly in shutting down the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti state (BSES) and its sister radio station which has become an instrument for disseminating malicious allegations and
    incitement to violence by outgoing governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state.

    “Thus, we are demanding the prosecution for treason of Fayose at the expiration of his tenure in office for attempting to unconstitutionally overthrow a legitimately elected government derived
    from the polls on Saturday 14th July, 2018, through his announcement of election result on the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES).”

  • Ekiti 2018: CNPP cautions monarchs on zoning

    The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) in Ekiti State has cautioned traditional rulers on their insistence that the next governor must come from Ekiti South senatorial district.

    The body contended that “all parties should be encouraged to follow their constitutions so that the best can emerge from each party so that Ekiti will choose the best of the best.”

    The traditional rulers who rose from a meeting with Governor Ayo Fayose at the weekend vowed to “mobilize their subjects to vote against any political party that fields governorship candidate from outside Ekiti South.”

    The CNPP in a statement on Tuesday by its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Deacon Olu Akomolafe, said although the Obas have the freedom to air their views but they must not throw stones.

    The statement said: “Ekiti is homogeneous, unlike many other states in Nigeria. Ikere is the next town to Ado while going to Akure so the thin line between Central and South is the bounding between the two ancient towns.

    “Any formula that will make an Ekiti man see one as his kinsmen as against the other should be rejected in its entirety. Whether the governor comes from Central, North or South, CNPP is of the opinion that it is sure that he will be an Ekiti person.

    “Our condition is that he or she should must be capable of all ending the present sufferings of Ekiti people. He or she should be a type that will give us the good things of life like good roads, potable water, jobs for our youth, salary as and when due, among others.

    “CNPP does not wish to imply that Ekiti South cannot produce the next governor. They can, but the selection must be subjected to a standard that is general and not restricted to just one area of the entire state.”

    In a related development, the Ekiti Oke Renaissance Group has urged traditional rulers in Ekiti State to be watchful against being used as cannon fodders ahead of the governorship election.

    A statement issued in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday by the group’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Dr. Olusegun Osinkolu expressed disappointment with the action of the monarchs.

    Osinkolu expressed shock that the Obas could be cajoled by anybody to believe that he can use them for sinister purpose to reach an unacceptable end.

    He condemned the attempt by Governor Ayo Fayose to disrupt the ongoing political activities by recruiting the Obas to cause political disharmony among the electorate.

    Osinkolu maintained that it was wrong for the governor to tell the monarchs to reject aspirants from any zone apart from the South saying such an action is “undemocratic and violates the fundamental human rights of voters.”

    “The choice of who becomes the governor is the prerogative of the electorate. Mr. Fayose should please excuse the palace from desecration,” Osinkolu concluded.

    Read Also: Ekiti 2018: Buhari grants Fayemi leave for guber race

  • CNPP to INEC: Conduct fresh election for Anambra Central Senatorial District

    CNPP to INEC: Conduct fresh election for Anambra Central Senatorial District

    The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to issue a certificate of return to Dr. Obiora Okonkwo as the senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial district, saying the judgement of the Federal High Court is meant to perpetually deny the people a representation in the current Senate.

    But Dr. Okonkwo said the Court of Appeal never nullified the election of March 28, 2015 not did it nullify the victory of the sponsoring political party –the PDP – but merely held that Hon. Uche Ekwunife, the so-called PDP candidate for the election, was not duly nominated by the PDP.

    Okonkwo is therefore asking the commission to respect the Judgement of the Federal High Court and award him the certificate of return as the curly elected senator for Anambra Central Senatorial district.

    Addressing a news conference in Abuja, Secretary General of CNPP, Chief Willy Ezugwu said since the court of Appeal has nullified the March 28 2015 elections and ordered INEC to conduct a fresh election on two separate occasion, the Federal High Court has no power to reverse the decision of the appellate court.

    The CNPP, he said sees the judgement as an attempt by the high court to flex muscles with the Court of Appeal, describing it as an unconstitutional anomaly capable of truncating our democracy if not nipped in the bud.

    He said that the hierarchy of courts in Nigeria established under section 6(6) of the 1999 constitution is clear and unambiguous, adding that “the Federal High Court is inferior to the Court of Appeal under our constitution. The federal High Court is incapable of returning Dr. Obiora Okonkwo as Senator Anambra Central Senatorial district when the election in question is no longer alive, having been nullified by the Court of Appeal.

    “The CNPP calls on INEC to bear in mind that there are about 13 other political parties preparing to participate in the court ordered fresh election already fixed by the commission to hold on January 12, 2018.

    “Consequently, the CNPP urges INEC in strong terms to ensure that enemies of our democracy do not prevail in their nefarious plot to abort the conduct of the fresh election and permanently deny Anambra Central Senatorial district a representation in the 8th senate.”

    However, in a letter to the commission, Okonkwo said that since the court had ruled that it is the political party and not the candidate that wins elections, he should be issued with a certificate of return since the court has already declared he was the duly nominated candidate for the election and not Uche Ekwenife.

    The letter signed by his counsel, Chief Sebastine Hon SAN, reads: “we are counsel to Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate that won the party’s nomination to contest the March 2015 election for Anambra Central Senatorial District but was unlawfully and wrongfully denied the ticket, which ticket was handed to Chief (Mrs.) Uche Ekwunife. He is hereinafter referred to as “our client”; and we hereby wrote on his instructions.

    “Aggrieved by that clearly unlawful decision of the PDP, our client took out an originating summons in December 2014, challenging the actions of the PDP. Joined as defendants in the suit were PDP, then chairman of PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Chief (Mrs.) Uche Ekwunife.

    “In the course of the trial, however, counsel to the PDP and the PDP chairman; counsel to INEC and Counsel to Chief (Mrs.) Uche Ekwunife, all submitted to judgment, as per the claims in the amended originating summons and the motion for judgment filed and served on them by the plaintiff (our client). It is instructive to note that the Motion on Notice sought for consequential orders, including an order that INEC should forthwith issue our client with a certificate of return and that he should be immediately sworn in as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “In the course of the hearing on Wednesday, 13th December, 2017, all defence counsel again conceded and submitted to judgment; hence the Hon. Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja entered judgment for our client as per claims in the amended originating summons as prayed in relief 3 of the motion on notice”.

    Dr. Okonkwo also attached all documents referred to in the letter made available to INEC.

    He reminded INEC that “your commission, sir, has already scheduled a fresh election into this senatorial district for 18/12018” adding that “we however, submit as follows: that the decision of the Court of appeal ordering fresh election, delivered on 7/12/2015 did not nullify the victory of the sponsoring political party –the PDP – but merely held that Hon. Uche Ekwunife, the so-called PDP candidate for the election, was not duly nominated by the PDP.

    “The Court of Appeal in that decision also held that the APGA candidate, Chief (Sir) Victor Umeh, could also not be declared winner of the said election, since he did not poll the highest number of votes.

    “Therefore, that the Court of Appeal did not nullify the March 2015 election into Anambra Central Senatorial District but merely held that Hon. Uche Ekwunife could not prove her due nomination by the PDP. Now that the Federal High Court in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1092/2014 has held that our client was duly nominated candidate of the PDP in that election; and in view of the settle case law that it is a political party as opposed to a candidate that wins an election, our client should, as ordered by Justice Tsoho J., be issued a certificate of return forthwith, to enable the senate leadership inaugurate him as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

  • Buhari welcome rally shuts down Ado-Ekiti

    Buhari welcome rally shuts down Ado-Ekiti

    …APC, Civil Society groups slam Fayose for “Death Wish”

    Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, was at a standstill for about two hours on Monday as residents under the aegis the Coalition of Civil Society groups staged a solidarity rally to weclome President Muhammadu Buhari back from his medical vacation.

    The coalition which includes the All Progressives Congress (APC), Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), labour leaders, youths, artisans, students, market women, commercial drivers and other interest groups slammed Governor Ayo Fayose for “wishing the President dead and making comments that could set the country on fire.”

    The rally which started at about 9.00 am at Okeyinmi Roundabout proceeded to Ijigbo before terminating at Mobil area in the city. Many of those who participated in the rally carried placards with various inscriptions.

    Some of the placards read: “Welcome Back Buhari, Shame On Fayose,” “On Buhari We Stand, Corruption Must Go,” “The Lion Is Finally Back Home,” “Fayose, You Are A Disappoinment To Ekiti People,” “Fayose Must Commit Suicide Now As Promised,” “Welcome Back, Baba, African Champion of War Against Corruption,” among others.

    The rally which was supervised by officers and men of the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) caused a traffic snarl on the major highway in the city.

    Protest leaders who took turns to address the people expressed satisfaction with the Saturday’s return of Buhari to the country saying his return will add bite to the anti-corruption crusade and economic recovery.

    Ekiti APC Chairman, Chief Olajide Awe, who was represented by his deputy, Mrs. Kemisola Olaleye, said Buhari’s return has exposed what he called “the unending lies of Fayose” who he said never wished the President to come back home alive.

    Awe who accused Fayose of playing God on the health of President advised the governor to emulate his Rivers State counterpart Nyesom Wike whom he said displayed maturity by joining other governors to welcome Buhari despite belonging to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said: “God has put Fayose to shame on Buhari, God has silenced him for his lies on the President’s health. We appreciate the people of Ekiti State for their good wishes and prayers for our President throughout the time he was away.

    “Anybody wishing Buhari dead will go before him, we rejoice with our President that he arrived safely and this has put an end to all the lies of Fayose.

    “We urge Fayose to honour his promise, let him be man enough to commit suicide if Buhari returns alive as he had earlier promised.

    “Ekiti people are tired of is one-day-one-trouble government and one-day-one-propaganda government and we want to assure our people that Fayose’s day of reckoning is very near.”

    Coordinator of Progressive Youth League (PYL), Adeoye Aribasoye, berated Fayose for “raising false alarm” on the health of President by threatening to release eleven damaging pictures of Buhari on life support.

    Aribasoye: “God is greater than men, Fayose said he has eleven damaging pictures of Buhari. We want the whole world to know that whatever he says does not represent the view of Ekiti people.”

    Labour leader, Kolawole Olaiya, urged Buhari to probe how the proceeds of Paris Club refunds to Ekiti was spent by Fayose regretting that workers are suffering.

    “Olaiya said: “We want President Buhari to revisit the issue of the Paris Club refunds to Ekiti State. Local government workers in Ekiti have not received salaries for about nine months.”

    CNPP Chairman Tunji Ogunlola said: “Nigeria’s collective destiny cannot be aborted by a tiny group of crooks whose survival depend on the looting of our commonwealth.

    “It is on this strength that we believe the President’s return presents a fresh hope for the accomplishment of our collective dream for a great nation as he settles down to work.”

  • Fayose’s aide warns Ekiti CNPP against blackmail

    Fayose’s aide warns Ekiti CNPP against blackmail

    The personal assistant to Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State on General Administration and Stomach Infrastructure, Mr. Sunshine Anifowose has described the media report authored by the Chairman of the State Chapter of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Mr Tunde Ogunlola that himself and seven other aides and associates of his boss are security threat, as unfounded, baseless and unsubstantiated.

    In a statement personally signed by Anifowose and given to our correspondent in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, he alleged that Ogunlola was instigated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to issue the statement just to rubbish the recent statement credited to the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of South West, Mr. Foluso Adebanjo that Ekiti State has the lowest crime rate in Nigeria.

    Anifowose who described himself as a responsible man from a reputable family, said unlike Ekiti under the immediate past Governor, Kayode Fayemi that witnessed about ten political killings and violence, the state under his boss, Fayose, has been very peaceful and orderly, just as recently posited by the Nigeria Police.

    The statement reads: “Acting the already prepared script of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, one Mr. Tunde Ogunlola, who claimed to be the Chairman of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) in Ekiti State, on Saturday the 9th of June, 2016, in a petition dispatched to the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Idris Ibrahim and the Director General of the Directorate of State Services, DSS, Alhaji Lawal Daura, described my humble self, Sunshine Anifowose and seven other aides and associates of the Governor as threat to the security of our dear State.

    “As long as i would have loved to ignore this imaginary tale, however, the concerns so far shown by my friends and family members’ within and outside the shore of Nigeria necessitated this rebuttal.

    “I want to say explicitly for posterity, that firstly, this accusation against my esteemed person is an outstanding lie from the pit of hell. This is an attempt to tarnish my irrefutable integrity. Let me say for the sake of emphasis that i am a responsible man from a reputable family.

    “I am known for zero tolerance for gangsterism, hooliganism and violence. I have never been arrested by nor detained by or at any police formation in the country neither have i ever been charged to any court for any crime or been remanded in any prison custody within or outside Nigeria.

    “I want to put it to Mr. Tunde Ogunlola and his paymasters that their latest petition is a satanic attempt to rubbish the statement credited to the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of South West, Mr. Foluso Adebanjo on June 1st  2016 as published by virtually all Newspapers in Nigeria that Ekiti State, under the leadership of my boss, Dr. Peter Ayo Fayose, has the lowest crime rate in Nigeria.

    “I say without gainsay that we in the Fayose’s political camp align ourselves with the position of DIG Adebanjo on the state of security in Ekiti State. It is on record that ever since Fayose became Governor 30 months ago; our state has not witnessed any political killing neither has any opposition gladiator or member been attacked, assaulted or molested by any agent of the incumbent for political reason.

    “Also, compared to other states of the federation, our state has the lowest cases of armed robbery and kidnapping in Nigeria. Also, violent demonstrations and communal clash are not synonymous to our state.

    “I therefore advice the police and DSS to place APC leaders, especially, Tunde Ogunlola, the state publicity secretary of the party, Taiwo Olatunbosun and their cronies in Ekiti on security watch because from our past experience, their modus operandi is that they always accuse people of whatever evil plans they plan to perpetrate.

    “I reiterate the fact that Gov. Fayose is the father of all in Ekiti at the moment. He respects the Elders, the traditional institutions and the rights of the people to associate. When Fayemi was to be made Minister, Fayose called on Senators from Ekiti State to ensure that he’s cleared without any hindrance.”

    Anifowose said that despite the barrage of insults being passed against Fayose daily on Social Media, Newspapers, TV and Radio by some APC Governorship Aspirants and their supporters, the Governor has refused to be provoked.

    The Governor’s aide stated that opposition members have been coming to Ado-Ekiti, the state capital to hold rallies even against the electoral law without being attacked.