The Nation Newspaper

Tag: parties

  • 2015 presidency: Three parties under watch, says Okorie

    2015 presidency: Three parties under watch, says Okorie

    UPP zones seat to Southeast

    The National Chairman of the United Progressives Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie, said yesterday that next year’s presidential election would be fought among three parties.

    He said the parties are the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the UPP.

    Okorie spoke at the UPP secretariat in Awka, the Anambra State capital, at the inauguration of the Working Committee of the party.

    Dr. Sylvester Igwilo was sworn in as the chairman, while Pat Achukwu became the deputy chairman. Dave Ogwuno is the secretary, among others.

    Addressing members, Okorie said the battle line had been drawn between UPP, which he said was the party of the progressives and others.

    He said it was going to be a battle between the progressives and the reactionaries, adding that UPP zoned its presidential ticket to the Southeast.

    The former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) said the UPP national executives would storm Anambra State to start a battle.

    He said: “UPP is targeting the presidency. President Goodluck Jonathan is performing, but a UPP president will do better. Let nobody think we are joking.

    “There have been countries where a party with the popular manifesto, popular candidate won the presidency without controlling the National Assembly. Greece is an example.

    “As for the National Assembly, our target is to win in the Southeast to start with. We will later make inroads into other places. We are not telling you that we will win the whole country.”

    Okorie vowed that the UPP would chase out the PDP in the Southeast.

    He said the leaders of the PDP in the zone could not win their constituencies in next year’s general elections.

    The Chairman of the Working Committee, Igwilo, promised to carry members along to take the party to the promised land.

  • PPA to parties: throw governorship contest open

    As the political heat of who succeeds Governor Theodore Ahamefule Orji, the incumbent governor of Abia State, in 2015 from Ngwa extraction intensifies, the Progressive Peoples’ Alliance (PPA), Abia State chapter has urged political parties in throw open the contest to all aspiring candidates from the Ukwa/Ngwa area and other parts of the state.

    The party’s leadership stated that throwing open the governorship contest to all Abia sons and daughters, who wish to aspire for the position was going to ensure that credible candidates among the lots jostling for the office of the governor in 2015 would emerge.

    Prince Emeka Okafor, state chairman and Chief Uche Enyioko, state secretary in a communiqué they endorsed on behalf of the party after an emergency state executive meeting of the party held at Umuahia, said it was both unjust and unconstitutional to exclude a section of the state that everybody believed it was their turn to produce the governor of the state in 2015.

    PPA leadership, while admitting that the governorship position had eluded people from the Ukwa/Ngwa, stated that it would be undemocratic for political parties to cede or limit the contest for the governorship slot to a particular area.

    According to the release, it was a subtle way of disenfranchising tested politicians from the affected Local Government areas (Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South and Osisioma Ngwa) from contesting the governorship election, thereby denying the state of her best hands.

    Part of the communiqué reads; “This is the time for Ukwa/Ngwa to produce the governor of the state come 2015 and it should be about people and bloc and not about zone.

    “PPA without any reservation, supports the Ukwa/Ngwa bloc to produce the next governor of the state in 2015 for equity and fairness, but what we are against is an attempt by some political parties in the state to disenfranchise some people from Ukwa/Ngwa through the so called zoning which on its own was capable of creating division among the people of the area.

    The release further stated that PPA as a political party would not be party to such brazen flouting of the constitution by disenfranchising qualified people from contesting next year’s governorship election, adding that the party would as far as the election was concerned, throw her doors open to all qualified Abians and Ngwa sons and daughters.

  • SDP candidate attacks parties

    SDP candidate attacks parties

    The Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) candidate, Mr. Olusegun Akinwusi, has called on the electorate to reject the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the August 9 poll.

    Akinwusi, who is the state’s former Head of Service (HOS),spoke while addressing members of SDP in Ibokun at the weekend after the party’s campaign tour of some communities in the areas.

    He decried the killing of  Tola Adeosun in Ilesa last Friday during a bloody fracas between APC and PDP supporters.

    He accused the two parties for allegedly “rearing thugs” ahead of the August election.

  • Mikel Obi parties with fans over Amstel Malta deal

    Mikel Obi parties with fans over Amstel Malta deal

    It was a short ceremony, but the early arrival of fans spoke volume about the man coming to dinner.

    Super Eagles star, Mikel Obi, walked into a roaring applause, accentuated by the DJ’s music as he arrived the Nigerian Breweries HQ bar, in Lagos, on Monday evening. His mission was to spend some time with top executives of the company over drinks and canapés, having been endorsed as ambassador for the Amstel Malta brand alongside Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji.

    Rising to the occasion, friends and clients of the company were invited to the evening of fun, where the Chelsea FC star spoke to reporters about what his pact with the brand entails.

    “My contract with Amstel Malta is to promote the brand and make the brand even bigger. As you can see, I’m here with the Amstel Malta family. I’m very happy and proud to be a part of this family. The future is looking bright. All we need to do is to work together and I am hundred percent sure we can achieve success to make this brand bigger,” he said.

    Mikel and Genevieve are the protagonists of the new Amstel Malta commercial, which was unveiled during the 2014 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) in February. Image from the commercial has gone viral, spotting both stars on a jet scene in South Africa.

    Mikel, who noted that he grew up taking the Amstel Malta brand, told reporters that working with Genevieve on the commercial of the beverage was fun. He also described the actress as an amiable personality.

    Asked when he will be getting married, the footballer said the time might be near as he had been in a serious relationship of late. ‘I’ve been dating seriously for two years now. I’m in love. I’ve found love,” he said repeatedly.

  • Oyo Council boss bans night parties, clubbing

    Following the clash by some hoodlums who were shooting guns and wielding machetes around Dugbe area of Ibadan, Oyo State capital last Friday, The Chairman Transition Committee of Ibadan North West Local Government, Mr Wasiu Olatunbosun has placed an indefinite ban on night parties and clubbing within the council.

    The council boss alleged that the fracas was as a result of a rival group that clashed during a party on thursday night.

    Olatunbosun disclosed this to journalist Tuesday shortly after the council’s regular security meeting with security chiefs within the council area.

    “The hoodlums started their problem form Idi-Oro which later degenerated to Ogunpa, Idi-Ikan, Popoyeosa, Oke-Padi and to Dugbe. We felt it is our responsibility to provide lasting solution to it because it started from a night party and that is why we have banned night parties and clubbing within the council area indefinitely,” he said

    Reading from the joint resolution reached with the security chiefs, the council boss said:” no night parties will be allowed to take place again within this council indefinitely, we implore the security agencies to mount regular patrol on trouble spots, there should be information sharing among the security agencies, we notice that this hoodlums use cluster nature of the suburb areas to forment trouble, so there should be beam searchlights that will fish out anybody that causes violence.

    “The security agencies should do thorough investigations to forestall future occurrences and unravel those behind it, security agencies should block in-flow of weapons so that it will not end in the wrong hands.”

    Olatunbosun assured the residents of the council that their lives and properties are well secured, urging them not to panic again.

    The council alleged that some people had been working to give the impression that Oyo State was not secure, saying that the fracas was not between political parties, but by those who wanted to foment trouble in the council area.

  • 2015: INEC bans parties, politicians from campaign

    2015: INEC bans parties, politicians from campaign

    Politicians were warned yesterday to pull the brake on campaigns for 2015.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issued the ban, which is coming six months after a letter was written to all political parties in January.

    Politicians seem to have rejected INEC’s warning.

    Besides President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign posters for the 2015 election, there have been others and leaflets for Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Governors Sule Lamido/ Rotimi Amaechi ticket and Governor Babangida Aliyu. There are ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar branded 2015 shoes on the Internet.

    The story is the same for aspirants seeking to contest at the state level.

    Although some of these political figures and aspirants have disowned the posters, INEC believes they were testing the waters in defiance of the Electoral Act.

    In a statement, INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kayode Robert Idowu, said violators of the Electoral Act would henceforth be arrested by security agencies.

    The statement said: “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has observed that some politicians and registered political parties have begun unbridled campaign towards the forthcoming general election, thereby heating up the polity.

    “It is observed that campaign posters are being indiscriminately displayed, while electioneering broadcasts are being aired outside the statutory provision for campaigning towards elections into various elective offices.

    “This trend is unhealthy and portends ill for the political process. Indeed, it is a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

    “The Commission hereby reminds all players of the provision of Section 99(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended), which states as follows:

    “For the purpose of this Act, the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.”

    “Political parties are advised to note that campaigning outside this provision is a violation of the law, and the Commission will not hesitate to apply appropriate sanctions against culprits as provided by relevant sections of the law.

    “Meanwhile, INEC calls on security agents to apprehend violators, whose activities in this regard pose a threat to public order.

    “The Commission enjoins all parties to play strictly by the rules, as part of a collective effort to ensure the success of the 2015 elections.”

    A source in INEC, who spoke in confidence, said: “When the commission was worried about the poster war in January, it wrote a letter to all political parties to call their members to order.

    “But INEC management has observed that these politicians have not relented, although they are clever to admit not being the brain behind such campaigns.

    “Heating up the system with 2015 campaign and posters amounts to lawlessness and unwillingness of these politicians to respect the rules of the game. We will not take kindly to it.”

  • Souvenirs for parties

    Souvenirs for parties

    Souvenirs are of different sizes, shapes, quality, and prices just like other products. Things such as mugs, unbreakable plates, stainless plates; sponge cases, hand fans of different shapes; kettles, portable pots, frying pans; handkerchiefs, face towels, buckets, slippers, exercise books, coolers and many more are souvenirs distributed at parties, maybe because they are affordable or widely used items.

    Markets like Mushin Ojuwoye, Oshodi, Lagos Island, Ola market- Itire and many other markets stock varieties of souvenirs at affordable prices.

    For a party planner who would like to buy in bulk, they range from N1, 500 to N3,000 depending on their quality and designs.

    Sponge cases and plastic hand fans are sold for the same price, between N1,200 and N1,500 per dozen. Pots and frying pans are sold based on their qualities, they cost between N2,000 and N3,500 respectively. A bag of slippers cost N4, 500. A set of combs cost N1,500, pack of handkerchief cost N500, as well as exercise-books.

    A good coffee mug is sold for N1, 500, a nice t-shirt cost N1, 500.

    Souvenir stores always want to be associated with places like higher institutions, busy markets or environments. These stores are sometimes a source of financial support for educational institutions.

    Many shops that are not primarily gift shops become gift shops during periods such as Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter. Souvenirs are also significant with online stores.

  • Presidency: No plans to frustrate merging opposition parties

    Presidency: No plans to frustrate merging opposition parties

    THE Presidency has distanced itself from the reports linking it with plots to frustrate the merger of progressive parties.

    It said there was no iota of truth in the allegation that it was frustrating the bid of the parties to register under the banner of All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Three political groups are laying claim to the APC acronym.

    Presidential spokesman Dr. Reuben Abati said in his twitwer account that there was no such directive or executive order from the Presidency as claimed by a report.

    Another aide, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe debunked the purported directive from President Goodluck Jonathan to governors under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the registration of the All Progressives Congress.

    In a statement, Okupe said the claim was false, mischievous and ran against common sense.

    The statement reads: “President Goodluck Jonathan is a democrat who has refused to interfere in the activities of other political parties and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    “The President does not give unlawful directives and has nothing to fear about the proposed merger that will necessitate him planning anything against the business interest of opposition figures as claimed by the Leadership Newspaper.”

    He likened the report to what he described as a false alarm, recently raised by certain elements that the President was planning to increase the pump price of petroleum products through the removal of fuel subsidy.

     

  • APC: Parties prepare for national conventions

    APC: Parties prepare for national conventions

    Opposition parties are preparing for their national conventions to formally approve the formation of All Progressives Congress(APC), the Publicity Secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has disclosed in Lagos.

    He described the extra-ordinary conventions being planned by the political parties as a critical element of the merger process. Following the resolution of the parties at the conventions, which must be witnessed by the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the party chairmen will consequently notify the electoral agency that they have merged into APC, Mohammed said.

    The letters conveying the decision to merge must also be signed by the party chairmen, secretaries and treasurers. The ACN chieftain said within 30 days, INEC must respond to the collective request for merger in either a positive or negative way. If no response is forth-coming, he said the merger instantly takes effect at the expiration of the 30 days. From that time, the participating parties will cease to exist.

    The parties may share information and ideas on the modalities for conducting the conventions, but they may not hold simultaneously because INEC officials must participate. Indeed, a 21-day notice to INEC about the special convention must be fulfilled as a critical condition. Mohammed indicated that the separate conventions may hold in the spate of two months from now, but the detailed arrangements are for the parties.

    However, only three parties are making plans to hold national conventions for now. They are the ACN, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). The fourth party, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is still divided on the issue. While key figures in the party, including Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and Senator Annie Okonkwo are actively involved in the merger, the party hierarchy has not given their definite backing.

    Mohammed, who spoke on a live television programme, cautioned against viewing the merger process from the participation of the parties alone. He explained that groups and individuals are also involved in the attempts to liberate the country from the jaw of the inept Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government. He said, with the birth of the new party, there will now be a balance of terror in the polity.

    The ACN chieftain said preparations for the conventions have become the next assignment, following the agreement on the logo of the APC in principle. He stressed: “We have agreed on the logo, in principle. What remains is that the merging parties will hold extra-ordinary national conventions to pass resolutions that they have merged. The conventions must be witnessed by the INEC.

    “After the conventions, the chairmen of the merging parties will write letters to inform INEC. It will be signed by the chairmen, secretaries and treasurers of the parties. The letter from a political party must be accompanied by N100,000. Within 30 days, INEC must say yes or no”.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Merger: Opposition parties should go for it

    Merger: Opposition parties should go for it

    SIR: Perhaps we all do not know that the future of our democracy and, indeed, the future of Nigeria’s political and economic strength lie in the strength of the political opposition. By political opposition, we certainly would not mean a particular political party or parties today but whichever party may be in the opposition in the future that is virile enough to be an alternative choice of the electorate in a presidential election.

    As at today, Nigeria does not have a political party which can boast of being an alternative government at the centre, and, so, we are yet to have a political opposition in the real sense of it. What we run is a one-party system disguised in an ostensible multi-party system.

    Because of the absence of a virile opposition, the progress Nigeria has recorded so far has come only by trial and error or by sheer luck, so much so that all our visions as a nation which are aimed at self-sufficiency, stable electricity, standard road networks etc. have come as mere jokes.

    An unchallenged ruling party would run at its own pace, if it does not become dictatorial or absolute in the process, and the whole nation would be at its mercy, waiting helplessly, regardless of the electoral rituals of four-year intervals.

    A multi-party system which is not able to achieve anything better than this for a nation cannot be said to be an evolving, let alone perfect, democratic system.

    It is in the light of this that we must rightly view the current moves by the A.C.N, C.P.C and A.N.P.P to merge into one political party as a nationalistic proposition, whether or not they are able to topple the P.D.P at first attempt in 2015.

    While plurality or mushrooming of political parties portrays a people as free and imbued with fundamental human rights, it also portrays them as purposeless and unserious. If power, truly, is the goal of political parties, then plurality or mushrooming of political parties can even be stupid and reflective of our lack of unity as bane of nationhood.

    We all need to realize this bane and rise up to prevent it; to cure the inadvertently designed self-retardation. It is gratifying that the A.C.N, C.P.C and A.N.P.P are taking the merger initiative today as it should be, as against the creation of two-party system by a decree during the Babangida military regime.

    •Jide Oguntoye

    Oye-Ekiti