The Nation Newspaper

Tag: New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

  • Bi-cameral legislature too expensive – NNPP

    Bi-cameral legislature too expensive – NNPP

    Mr Shakirudeen Olofin, Lagos State Chairman, New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), says the the bicameral legislature the country operates is too expensive.

    Olofin spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.

    He said the party aligned with the view expressed by Gov. Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State on Monday that Nigeria would save costs with a unicameral legislature.

    Al-Makura had made the suggestion while hosting some Alumni members of Ahmadu Bello University at Government House, Lafia.

    The NNPP Chairman said the Senate and the House of Representatives were merely duplicating functions and the country would be better with just one chamber.

    Olofin, however, said that only the people could decide which of the systems they preferred, and asked that the issue be subjected to public debate.

    “The current system of two chambers of National Assembly, for us, is not cost effective as it is a drain of resources.

    “The two chambers are duplicating functions, and we don’t think we need that in the country.

    “However, we suggest Nigerians should decide on the issue. The should decide whether to keep the current system or do away with one,’’ he said.

    The State Secretary of the Labour Party, Mr Bolaji Oshinowo, who also spoke on the matter, described the two-chamber National Assembly as “a burden on the country’s resources.’’

    Oshinowo said the contributions of the two houses to national assembly are not commensurate with the huge annual budgetary spending on them.

    He suggested either the scrapping of one of the arms or adoption of part-time legislators, in which representatives held sessions when they had serious deliberations.

  • Edo poll: KOWA calls for cancellation of results

    Edo poll: KOWA calls for cancellation of results

    • LP, NNPP objects

    The KOWA Party on Thursday called for the cancellation of the Edo State gubernatorial election results following reports of violence and irregularities in certain areas.

    KOWA’s agent at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Benin City, Thompson Osadolor had raised called for the cancellation  following the commission’s cancellation of results in areas where ballot boxes were snatched or card readers not used for authentication.

    He said that since it was obvious that such issues including the open inducement of voters at polling units occurred at different places, INEC should out rightly cancel the entire results and bar parties found culpable from contesting a new election.

    His submission was however countered by agent of the  New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) Joyce Edekere and her Labour Party counterpart.

    According to Edekere, NNPP would not back the call for cancellation because it was unnecessary.

    “We’re not joining the call for a cancellation of the elections because we think there’s no justification for such. The elections were fair and INEC gave direct answers to the questions that were raised about elections.”

    Similarly, Labour Party said the elections were generally peaceful, free and fair, insisting that it was baseless to demand cancellation, considering the resources and time put into achieving the outcome.

    “This election was very peaceful. On as much as there were a few issues in some places, INEC has done the accurate thing by cancelling the results of the places affected. We do not see the need for cancellation and we do not support the call.”
    Of the 18 Local Government Areas result announced, the All Progressives Congress (APC) won 13 leaving the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with five.

    Earlier, both PDP and Action Alliance (AA) agents demanded that the votes for Etsako Central released by INEC be recounted on grounds that it differed from the copy they got at the collation centres.

  • Edo 2016: PPA, Accord, NNPP pick candidates

    Edo 2016: PPA, Accord, NNPP pick candidates

    More political parties in Edo State Monday elected candidates that would contest the September 10 governorship election on its various platforms.

    The political parties that elected its candidates are People for Democratic Change (PDC) the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) the Accord Party and the Progressive People Alliance.

    Former Managing Director of Daar Communications, owners of AIT and currently the CEO of WAWOO TV, Osaro Agbonifo Obaseki, popularly called Don P emerged candidate of the Accord Party.

    He was elected by over 300 delegates after accreditation.

    Don Pedro said his election was a call to duty and that he would embark on door to door campaigns.

    He said he has unveiled the EDO agenda which covers empowerment, development and opportunity for the people of the state.

    One Bishop Akhalamhe was elected candidate of the PDC as he was the sole aspirant for the race in the party.

    Acting State Chairman of the party, Mr. Erhunmwunse Joseph, said the party’s decision to uphold the election of Akhalamhe through voice vote endorsement was in line with the directive of the national leadership.

    Bishop in his acceptance speech said he was moved to join the governorship race because of the present economic pains in the state.

    He promised to revive the economy of the state through industrialisation with focus on critical income generating infrastructures.

    Former State Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Prince Frank Ukonga, who clinched the ticket of the NNPP promised an enhance relationship between the government and workers in the state.

    He said, “In the aspects of labour and workers of the state, I promise to pay salaries as at when due, ratify all promotions and pay local government workers promptly and also to employ more than 50,000 new workers into the civil service of the state.”

    A television broadcaster, Mr. Thomas Sado emerged candidate of the PPA.

    He said his focus for the state is anchored on a seven point agenda aim at ensuring a positively and totally transformed state.

    Sado said, “in line with the PPA manifesto, this cut across health, education, agriculture/employment, industrialisation, infrastructures, security and housing where I and indeed the PPA have a positive difference to impact on our treasured, hardworking, resourceful and culture-endowed Edo people.

    State Chairman of PPA, Mr. Dave Esokpunwu, said the state would be better off if the party won the election.

  • Edo 2016: Aspirant, others dump SDP

    Edo 2016: Aspirant, others dump SDP

    A governorship aspirant of the Social Democratic Party, Prince Frank Ukonga and executives of the party in the 18 local government areas have dumped the party.

    Prince Ukonga who doubles as the state chairman of the party said they decided to leave the party because of irreconcilable differences between various factions of the party in the state.

    In a statement issued in Benin City, Prince Ukonga said the defectors would pitch tent with the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

    Ukonga stated that they decided to join the NNPP because they were convinced that their political aspiration to contribute to the development of Edo State would be realized in NNPP.

    According to the statement, “We appreciate all the reconciliation attempts of the NWC of the SDP and our leaving the SDP does not exclude future cooperation when our interest to run concurrently.”

    “Our desire to impact positively in the rapid development of Edo State is pitched on a ten point agenda under the banner of the NNPP.”