The Nation Newspaper

Tag: National Conscience Party (NCP)

  • Ekiti 2018: 25 political parties adopt Fayemi

    The governorship bid of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has received a boost as he has been adopted by twenty five political parties.

    Citing what they called Fayemi’s “superlative and sparkling credentials” and life-changing policies and projects during his first tenure, the parties pledged to work for his victory at the Saturday poll.

    The parties also praised President Muhammadu Buhari for reducing corruption in the Nigerian society, saying this will help in stabilizing the country economically within the next few years.

    Read Also:Ekiti 2018: Why I want to rule Ekiti again – Fayemi

    Addressing reporters on Wednesday, KOWA Party State Chairman and spokesman of the group, Pastor Ade Ogunkolade, said the decision was arrived at “in the interest of Ekiti

    Some of the parties include Action Alliance (AA), Alliance for Democracy (AD), African Democratic Congress (ADC), National Conscience Party (NCP), All Progressives Congress (APC), Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD), National Action Congress (NAC), among others.

    Ogunkolade said Fayemi was the first governor to introduce free education up to the secondary level in the state unlike now when kindergartens were being mandated to pay taxes even in private schools.

    He said apart from declaring free education for pupils, that Fayemi also created avenues for employments of youths, such as the State Peace Corps, Volunteer Corps, Social Security scheme, among other policies that affected the lives of the masses positively.

    He said: “After careful studies of all these achievements, the CNPP decided to give him all the necessary supports and strongly advise Ekiti people to come out on Saturday ad vote massively for Dr Fayemi to return Ekiti to the golden age of abundance.

    “Ekiti people must not be deceived into another era of anarchy, tyranny oppression, indebtedness and deception”.

    The CNPP condemned Governor Fayose for allegedly incurring a staggering sum of N117 billion as debt as revealed by the Debt Management Office (DMO) without nothing to show for it as achievements.

    “We appeal to the federal government to deploy more policemen to the State to prevent any rigging by the PDP-led government in the state.”

    CNPP appealed to Ekiti electorate to cooperate with security agencies to make the coming election a success.

  • NCP chieftain urges youths to be active in electoral process

    A chieftain of the National Conscience Party ( NCP ), Mr John Ntang, on Thursday urged the youth be active  in the electoral process with a view to electing leaders of their choice.

    Ntang gave the advice in an interview with the newsmen in Lagos.

    He said that the youths represent the active population in the country, with a big role to play in strengthening democracy.

    Ntang said that many youths had consistently shunned the process because of lack of faith in it and their frustrations with the system.

    He said the way to change the narrative was not to stand aloof, but to actively participate in the process to realise the change they desired.

    Read Also: Fawehinmi, a champion of participatory democracy — NCP

    “The youths are a very important component of our population, and so, they are very central to the growth of democracy

    .”Yes, they have frustrations with the system, yes they are disenchanted, but nothing will change if they stand aloof.

    “The only way to realise their dreams is for them is to actively participate in the process to elect leaders of their choice,” he said.

    Ntang urged the youth to register for voting and obtain their Permanent Voter Cards for participation in elections.

    He asked the youth to aspire for political offices to have representation in government.

    NAN

  • Insubordination: NCP calls for arrest of NHIS boss

    The National Conscience Party (NCP), has asked Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, to immediately  order the arrest of the suspended National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Executive Secretary, Professor. Usman Yusuf.

    NCP said that it is unbecoming of Yusuf to continue to parade himself as the NHIS boss, more than one week after his suspension was conveyed to him by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole.

    Deputy National Chairman of NCP, Waheed Lawal , made the call for the immediate arrest of the embattled NHIS in a statement released in Abuja.

    Lawal said, “My strong belief in the Nigeria democratic process enables me to speak against tyranny, wanton disregard for established authority and unrepentant rigidity for corrupt tendencies especially as the voice of the poor citizens of our country as regards the manipulative tactics at the NHIS office.”

    He chided the House of Representatives for their involvement in the imbroglio which he described as the inconsistency and incoherence of a chamber of dual personalities.

    He said, “it is a matter of public knowledge that the members of the House committee on health have been compromised and are sentimentally delusional by the antics and unguided conduct of Prof. Usman Yusuf, as they portrayed themselves over the years worked against the interest of the executive to stamp out corruption from the public service.

    “The suspension of the NHIS executive secretary is following a precedence which remains one of the best approaches to fight the scourge of corruption, we, and even the green chamber all applauded the suspension of the secretary to the government of the federation, Babachir David Lawal.

    “As such, why are the lawmakers perfecting a legislative coup against the conscience of Nigerians by pushing for the recall of Yusuf who should by now be answering questions from the constituted investigative panel on over 72 petitions received so far, bothering on financial impropriety, gross misconduct and flagrant disregard for the civil service rules and the procurement act?,” Lawal asked.

  • LG elections: Lagos CP condemns violence at party’s mock primaries

    LG elections: Lagos CP condemns violence at party’s mock primaries

    The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, on Tuesday urged members of political parties eschew violence ahead of the July 22 local government elections.

    Owoseni made the appeal at the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja while meeting with state chairmen and secretaries of the parties.

    He said the meeting was called as a result of fracas which occurred in Surulere during mock primaries of a political party which claimed the life of a victim.

    The police commissioner said it was also for proper interaction between the political parties and the police, to be able to nip in the bud any untoward incident.

    “The incident that happened last week is a pointer that political activities in Lagos are no longer cordial as they used to be.

    “This is Lagos where everyone has taken each other as brothers. I’m surprised to see an incident where someone had to lose his life.

    “I see no reason why political activities should lead to the death of one. I thought we had gone beyond do or die politics.

    “If we, in the process of wanting to get power kill people, then who do we govern when we eventually get the power?

    “You will help us more if you don’t bring tension into political activities by giving us more time to fight criminals who are after our families.

    “If you are going to make the few policemen we have follow politicians, it doesn’t make any sense. We need to lay good examples,” he said.

    Mr Olubolaji Osinowo, State Secretary, Labor Party (LP), expressed the hope that the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) would be fair to all parties, to avoid any form of violence.

    Mr Funsho Ologunde, State Vice Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), also urged the electoral body to provide adequate forms to enable everyone who had aspiration to obtain them.

    According to him, failure of the electoral body to do so is one the reasons why violence occurs during elections.

    Comrade Fatai Ibuowo, State Chairman, National Conscience Party (NCP) urged the police to be neutral during the primaries and the elections to avoid violence.

    He also identified the fees charged by LASIEC  for forms as a vexed issue which was causing tension and hould be reconsidered.

    “LASIEC is charging fees for the collection of forms which is supposed to be free. The police should please intervene to prevent any form of violence.” he said.

    Mr Lanre Ogundare, State Secretary, Accord Party commended the police on its efforts during the party’s primaries which were peaceful.

    NAN reports that Owoseni subsequently gave the party representatives numbers to call whenever they need police assistance.

    He advised them to inform the police of their activities at least 72 hours in advance.

  • 86 political associations seek registration

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said the number of political associations seeking registration as political parties ahead of the 2019 general elections was currently 86.

    The Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made this known during the commission’s quarterly meeting with leaders of political parties at INEC headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday.

    Yakubu described political parties as important vehicles in the management of the country’s democracy.

    “The number of applications for registration of new associations as political parties now stands at 86,” he said.

    He congratulated the 10 political parties recently re-registered after being deregistered following their performances during the 2015 general elections.

    The political parties, according to him, are Better Nigeria Peoples Parties (BNPP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Peoples Progressives Party (PPP), Democratic Alternative (DA), National Action Council (NAC) and National Democratic Liberty Party (NDLP).

    Others are Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN), National Conscience Party (NCP), Nigeria Element Progressives Party (NEPP) and the National Unity Party (NUP).

    “The names of these political parties have already been uploaded on our website.

    “But, I will like to appeal to those of them, out of the ten that are yet to open their offices, to do so and immediately notify the commission,” Yakubu said.

    He also congratulated the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) on the successful conduct of its election, which he said was useful for the development of the country’s electoral system.

    “I wish to assure you that INEC will continue to partner IPAC.”

    The chairman said that agenda of the quarterly meeting included INEC’s proposed strategic plan for 2017-2021, court judgment on the roles of political parties, violence in the conduct of parties’ primaries and elections generally.

    He also said that internal democracy of political parties, parties’ campaign finances, nationwide continuous voter registration, outstanding Anambra Central senatorial re-run election and presentation on INEC innovations.

    In his remarks, IPAC Chairman, Mohammed Nalado, urged INEC to seek alternatives to deregistration of political parties.

    He also expressed displeasure in INEC for not properly consulting political parties before fixing dates for 2019 general elections.

    Nalado admitted that INEC chairman notified IPAC of the decision, but said that the council did not know whether the information was official or not until it was in the newspapers.

    “We had meeting with INEC chairman, unfortunately we did not understand him whether he was telling us officially or he was just giving us information on how our elections should be done.

    “I hope this issue will be discussed thoroughly here,” Nalado said.

    He affirmed IPAC’s commitment to work with INEC in deepening the country’s democracy.

    Nalado also urged the commission’s new National Commissioners to make their inputs to the development of the electoral system.

    The National Chairman of United Democratic Party (UDP), Mr. Godson Okoye, in an interview with newsmen, said it was disrespect for INEC to fixed date for elections without consulting political parties.

    “We are surprised that dates were fixed for elections that will take place in two years time.

    “I think if that is the official position of INEC, the position of UDP is that it marks some disrespect for political parties from INEC,’’ he said.

     

  • Onovo hails Obj, IBB’s support for Igbo Presidency

    Onovo hails Obj, IBB’s support for Igbo Presidency

    The 2015 Presidential candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP), Chief Martin Onovo, has commended ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s call for Igbo Presidency in 2019.

    Onovo, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos, also commended former Head of State, retired Gen. Ibrahim Babangida for his declaration of support for such call.

    “Obj is the most experienced and leader of all politicians across all parties in Nigeria today. He knows a lot more from the experience than many of us.

    “Rotational presidency is a Nigerian phenomenon and it is particularly Nigerian.

    “We have seen our heterogeneous composition and we have realised that since power is owned by component groups, to create peace for development,   to create inclusiveness, it must be rotated.

    “There is no state in Nigeria, local government or community where rotation is not going on and power not being rotated. So this is the right thing for Nigeria and Obj is clearly right.

    “Also, IBB is also agreeing with that, that he would support Igbos. So, it is very clear that this is the right thing to do and this is what we should do,” Onovo said.

    According to him, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when it was founded in 1999 realised the need for rotation of the presidency in order to ensure peace.

    The former presidential candidate expressed strong belief that the South East region would overcome the challenges of marginalisation with a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction.

    “Domination cannot be positive in politics, politics is representative, so the South East must be adequately represented in politics of Nigeria otherwise it will become counterproductive for the nation.

    “And that is what Chief Obasanjo and Babangida realised and promoting right now. That is the right thing to do, the Imo born politician stressed.

    He said that every patriotic Nigerian must support the call in the interest of the nation.

    NAN reports that Obasanjo while hosting the Christian Association of Nigeria, Ogun Chapter on Tuesday said that the region, in 57 years of independence of the country, had not produced a democratically-elected president.

    Obasanjo said that the problem of marginalisation and injustice had been a major source of conflicts in the country.

  • Edo poll: Chaos at Oredo ward ll

    Chaos was on Wednesday Morning reported at Oredo ward ll as the Edo State governorship election commenced.

    The Nation gathered that the chaos started as political party agents canvassed for votes at ward ll, Unit Two.

    Voters accused the agent of the National Conscience Party (NCP)’s candidate  of giving signs to electorates beside the ballot box.

    Details later…

  • NCP candidate protests at debate

    Candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP) in the Edo State governorship election, Pastor Peters Omoragbon, on Sunday night protested alleged partiality of the organizers of a debate for political parties’ candidates in the state.

    The debate tagged the ‘Mandate’ was shunned by eight candidates including Mr. Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressive Congress.

    Pastor Omoragbon who was among 12 candidates that participated in the debate expressed his disappointment during the debate after the time keeper cut him off.

    He said he regretted inability to articulate his party’s programmes and manifestos because of time.

    His words: “I want to express my disappointment at this event. The timing given to other candidates is different from what is allowed us now. I cannot be used as a photo shop.”

    Another protest erupted when party logos were to be placed on the podium after four candidates stepped down without their party logos pasted on the podium.

    The candidates said it was unfair for the organizers to allow them speak without their party logos but to paste such on the podium at a time candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, United Progressive Party, KOWA party and Social Democratic Party.

    Candidate of the UPP, Adviser Shedrack Nowamagbe said he would recover stolen funds from past administrations in the state to ensure stable electricity and adequate security.

    Adviser Nowamagbe who was briefed in his comments urged all candidates to be prepared to swear before the Oba’s shrine if the people were to take them seriously.

    KOWA’s party candidate, Mr. Thompson Osadolor, described himself as a mechanic that want to fix the state.

    He promised to set up a state owned construction firm with a view to carrying out road construction with direct Labour without award such contracts to contractors.

    Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu said the ruling APC policy has not been friendly to investors as well as not giving access to credit facilities.