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Tag: KOWA

  • ‘KOWA has no pact with APC’

    The KOWA Party has said that it has no pact with the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC).

    In a statement in Lagos, the party said that it has not endorsed the APC governorship candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    According to KOWA, there was no discussion between APC and its leadership on next year’s elections.

    It added: “KOWA Party in Lagos state is focused on its candidates for Legislative Offices. They are: Ayo Lijadu, Senatorial candidate for Lagos East District, Tokunboh Akinbiyi House of Representatives, Kosofe Constituency, Siraj Adebakin –  House of Representatives, Mushin II  Constituency, Abang Emenyi, Lagos State House of Assembly, Lagos Mainland II Constituency, Ikpomwonsa Olotu, Eti-Osa I Constituency and Akan Imoh, House of Assembly, Ikeja II Constituency.

    “We implore all our members, supporters and well-wishers in Lagos state and beyond to disregard all such rumors and keep faith with KOWA Party as we go into the 2019 elections to deliver candidates that would make a positive difference in the political space in the overall interest of the nation.”

     

  • KOWA party advocates legislation for political party registration

    KOWA party advocates legislation for political party registration

    The KOWA Party has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to approach the National Assembly for legislation for political party registration.

    Mr Mark Adebayo, the National Secretary of KOWA, told the Newsmen in Lagos on Tuesday that it was unrealistic for INEC to continue to register more parties on daily basis.

    According to him, I do not think we should have more than 10 political parties in this country.

    “We in KOWA strongly think that INEC cannot continue registering political parties; asides the fact that it is too expensive for the commission to go round the 36 states and FCT to monitor party congresses, it is unrealistic to have 52 political parties.

    “Also, about 100 have so far applied for registration, we cannot continue like this. There has to be a way to limit the number of political parties in the country.

    “There is urgent need for INEC to approach the National Assembly, there has to be legislation on the present number of political parties that we have,’’ Adebayo said.

    The scribe said that proliferation of political parties was the reason manifestoes of almost all the parties were alike saying it has become just a `written verbatim’.

    He urged INEC to set minimum standards for registration of political parties disagreeing with a situation whereby political parties met requirements of law, gets registered and go home to sleep.

    Read Also: KOWA Party to hold supplementary state congress in Lagos

    “Political realities are different from freedom of association; your freedom of association should not lead you to having parties that you will not be able to monitor or sustain.

    “You are free to associate, but every family or street does not need to form a political party. It will destroy our democracy,’’ he said.

    The KOWA scribe however, suggested the need for INEC to introduce a pamphlet that would carry names of all registered political parties instead of going to print a long ballot paper that could lead to voter apathy.

    According to him, there has to be a way for people to spend the barest minimum time at the polling booth.

    The news men reports that there are 68 registered political parties in Nigeria at present.

    More associations have applied to INEC to be registered as political parties.

    NAN

  • KOWA Party to hold supplementary state congress in Lagos

    KOWA Party to hold supplementary state congress in Lagos

    The KOWA Party said on Monday it would organise a supplementary state congress, to achieve its 30 per cent affirmative action in appointive positions for women in the party.

    The National Secretary of KOWA, Mr Mark Adebayo, told our News men in Lagos, affirmative action was imperative and strong in the party and that it would not be compromised.

    “The reason we need to plan a supplementary state congress is that it is very disappointing that during our Saturday congress, no single lady came out or even showed interest to contest for the only position meant for women.

    “Article 11 of our constitution states that 30 per cent minimum of members of national, state, local government, ward executive, including the board of trustees, shall be women.

    Read Also: KOWA  urges Obaseki to be magnanimous in victory

    “This is a reflection of what is happening in the larger society.

    “We will give a new date so that we can come and organise a supplementary state congress to see that we meet up with the 30 per cent requirement of the law.

    “We cannot have an all men executive in Lagos, a state which is regarded and seen as a micro-Nigeria. It will not tell well of us.’’

    According to Adebayo, this is part of the female apathy toward politics.

    He said that factors such as a lack of proper communication could be a hindrance to women showing interest in elective positions.

    The party scribe urged women to come out more to contest elective positions in the country and to do away with the needles sentiments they held on to.

    “To succeed, women must do away with unnecessary rivalry, gossip, disagreements of all dimensions and be committed as a military ready for a revolution.

    “Women have all it takes to challenge men to a political fight as well as the numerical strength and are equally educated as the men.

    “In 2015 the only woman presidential contestant was from KOWA Party, which was the first in the political history of Nigeria.

    “So the time for women to dominate the political landscape is now,’’ Adebayo said.

    NAN

  • Kowa recruits volunteers

    The candidate of the Kowa Party, Mr. Thompson Osadolor, said he is campaigning with no fewer than 100,000 volunteers and 200 others recruited to propagate the party’s message of hope in the 18 local government areas and the 192 wards of Edo State.

    Osadolor, who disclosed this in an interview with reporters in Benin City, the Edo State capital, yesterday added that the party is campaigning seriously for the September 10 governorship election, because neither the All Progressives Congress (APC) nor the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has a serious plan for the people.

    The Kowa flag bearer said if he gets a chance to govern the state his policy trust would revolve round human capital development.

    He said the volunteers who are fully equipped with the party’s manifesto would soon spread out across the nook and crannies of the state to start delivering the message.

    Osadolor said he adopted the approach to ensure that the message gets to the people, so that they can make an informed choice.

    He said: “Like I have said in every fora, the choice is no longer between the APC and the PDP, but other political parties, especially Kowa. Our message of hope is that we have come to rescue the people from the challenges of unemployment, qualitative and affordable education, food security though a robust agricultural development, youths and women empowerment among others.

    “The present government has done its best in the area infrastructural development, but development goes beyond that. So many things, such as portable water and development of the tourism sector, have been left untouched. We hope to do more in the area of infrastructural development and focus on these areas that have been left idle for so long a time.

    “It is my belief that the state will not only become a reference point in the area of good governance, but also the standard of living of the people would improve tremendously.”

    Osadolor said the 200 recruits will be motivated by payment of honourarium, “because their jobs were quite different from that of the volunteers”.

    He added: “For the avoidance of doubt, interested persons are expected to pick and fill the forms which will be available at the party’s campaign flag-off in Benin on Wednesday.

    “Though their work terminates soon after the elections, but we hope to re-absorb them after winning the September 10 election.

    “But, for now, their job is before and during the poll and their brief is different from that of the volunteers.”

  • Ize-Iyamu not an alternative to APC, says KOWA candidate

    The KOWA governorship candidate, Thompson Osadolor, has said that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, should not succeed Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

    Osadolor, who said he remained the candidate to beat at the September 10 poll spoke in Benin.

    He said: Ize-Iyamu who was an integral part in the infamous Lucky Igbinedion’s administration in Edo, would never be the right person to lead the state.

    “Ize-Iyamu says he is a rebranded man, whether he is going to work for his people or those who are supporting him, remains best known to him.

    “But, as for me, it is going to be difficult because you cannot extricate yourself from those who you have been part and parcel of for decades that looted Edo state.

    Osadolor added: “He was part of Lucky Igbinedion’s administration as council chairman, also he was Chief of staff as well as Secretary to the state government under the same man.

    “Yet again, the same Ize-Iyamu is being supported and under the sponsorship of the same Lucky and other persons in PDP who ruined the state.”

    “Oshiomhole has done well but i, as the candidate of KOWAa party, remained the best to take over from where he stopped,” he posited.

    Well promising that his government would be hinged on human capital development, Osadolor said he would lay a solid foundation for successive government of the state.

    He also promised to replicate the developmental model obtainable in the developed countries of the world.

    “I have tasted life in several of the advanced countries of the world and as such, I know better what good governance is. The people are yearning for good governance and I will replicate what here, what is obtainable in outside the country.

    “I am not going to do magic, but will build a legacy which every. Successive government will meet and build upon,” stated Osadolor.

    The KOWA candidate who said he would flag-off his campaign on Wednesday, noted however, that his campaign is going to be based on issues.

  • Osadolor is KOWA party candidate

    Thompson Osadolor,  has emerged the governorship candidate of KOWA party in Edo State.

    In his acceptance speech, he advised Nigerians against voting for “money bags” politicians, whom he said, do not mean well for the people.

    Osadolor noted that money bag politicians usually use their money to buy their way into leadership positions, but end up using the opportunity to amass more wealth.

    The KOWA candidate attributed the challenges of Nigeria’s democracy to “money politics” which, according to him, has contributed largely to the under-development of the country.

    He said: “It is as a result of this money politics that our leaders hardly does well in office, because they are there for themselves and not me and you.

    This, he added, explains why they use every means possible to place themselves as leaders of these parties.”

    He urged the people to learn how to support political party and their candidates based on ideology and not money.

    Osadolor said the KOWA party is determined to bring about positive changes in the polity in Edo and elsewhere in the country.

    He promised that when voted into office, his people-oriented government would, within the shortest possible time, address the problem of unemployment and invest heavily in education.

    The KOWA candidate, who nickname himself “The Mechanic”, said he knows all the challenges confronting the state and its people and has solutions to them.

    The state chairman of the party, Mr Otasowie Omigie, had in his address,said KOWA party represents moral re-alignment in the country.

    He said the aim is to educate the people to begin to see politics differently and also encourage massive encouragement of the populace to begin to participate actively in politics.

    About 400 delegates participated in the primaey election, where  Osadolor was nominated unopposed for the September 10 governorship poll.

  • Party to Oyo Govt: ‘Obey court order’

    KOWA Party has urged the Oyo State Government to obey a court ruling  and stop the demolition of the Temidire plank market.

    The governorship candidate in the 2015 election, Olaide Olayiwola, made the appeal yesterday when he visited the traders in Ibadan, the state capital.

    “We are appealing to the government to obey the court order and allow them stay.

    “Most of the markets demolished by the government in the past were given to rich individuals to build shopping malls and estates. Even if they are going to demolish it, it should follow due process and should be improved upon.

    The state is trying to copy the Lagos State government but Oyo is not in anyway comparable to Lagos. We need our citizens to job security. KOWA is always with the masses and we shall protect their interests,” Olayiwola said

    The market chairman, Pa Sunday Alabi, said the land was leased for them for 99 years during the administration of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja.

    “We have been here since 1985 and this is our means of livelihood. We want the government to pity us and obey the court injunction,” Alabi said

  • Kogi: CNPP cautions Wada on litigation

    Kogi: CNPP cautions Wada on litigation

    The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) Kogi State chapter has urged the Governor Idris Wada to promptly rescind the proposed court litigation against the Alhaji Yahaya Bello’s election.

    This they said will enable the governor-elect enjoy a smooth take off with his administration, next year.

    This was contained in a statement jointly signed by the state chairman, Alhaji Abdanis Abubakar Ibrahim and the secretary, Ilyas Badanga, copies of which were made available to newsmen in Lokoja Tuesday.

    They stated that the call had become imperative, in order to have a pleasant transition period and for the benefit of an inclusive government that would be mutually beneficial to all and sundry.

    The CNPP also commended the measures taken so far by Wada administration towards smooth transition of governance.

    The Kogi CNPP which comprises of ADC, DPC, DPP, ID, KOWA, NCP, PDM, UPP and YDP, all of which contested the governorship election in the state appealed to Hon. James  Abiodun Faleke, the deputy governor-elect to shift ground and allow for a synergy that will put the name of both executive leaders in the sand of history among the patriots.

    It added: “CNPP hereby challenge Hon. James Faleke to hournor the people’s clarion call to him to offer his leadership services in compliance with the party’s interest.

    “Disputations and litigations will only deafen his sensibilities against the will of the people now that matters most. Please Honourable come and join hands with the peoples administration.”

  • My priorities, by KOWA presidential candidate

    The presidential candidate of KOWA Party, Prof. Oluremi Sonaiya, has said she will give more attention to education and reduce unemployment rate, if elected.

    Sonaiya spoke yesterday in Abuja when she visited the camp of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Durumi area of the Federal Capital Territory.

    Accompanied by her running mate, Mr Saidu Bobboi, she said they were in the camp to share in the terrorism victims’ pain and to see what her campaign organisation could do for them.

    “Your condition is deplorable and unacceptable; there are many challenges confronting this country and we are here to pledge that we will address some of these problems.

    “We are out to bring change that will bring development in this country; our campaign is focusing on infrastructural development such as good roads, pipe borne water, electricity and many more.”

    A spokesman of the IDPs, Mr Bala Yusuf, thanked the party officials for the visit.

  • 2015: Politicians want INEC to ‘frustrate’ election riggers

    2015: Politicians want INEC to ‘frustrate’ election riggers

    Some politicians on Sunday in Lagos charged the Independent National Electoral Commission) to devise ways to frustrate election riggers in 2015.

    It will be recalled that INEC on Friday promised to frustrate riggers in the 2015 elections with a “clean” voter register.

    The commission also said it was working on scientific measures to counter problems such as multiple voting, sale of voter cards and snatching of ballot boxes.

    Speaking on the issue, a former Chairman of the FCT Chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr. Sunny Moniedafe, said he hoped the commission could keep to its word.

    “I hope INEC can keep to its words because our dear country is where it is today as those in government feel they do not need the voters to win elections.”

    According to him, Prof. Attahiru Jega is not the problem in the conduct of elections.

    Moniedafe alleged that the commissioners in the past were the ones, who messed up Nigeria’s electoral process, saying, “if they can change, it will be better for everybody.”

    The National Public Relations Officer of KOWA Party, Prof. Oluremi Sonaiya, also wished that INEC did what was right.

    “Let INEC do the right thing; we have found out that in this country that those in authority are known to be saying one thing today and doing another tomorrow,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Prof. Sonaiya as saying on the issue.

    She urged INEC to ensure that the 2015 election, if not the best should be near-perfect, adding that expectations of Nigerians were high.sONY