Politics
Faseun, Balarabe Differ On Two-Party System
Dr Frederick Faseun, the leader of the O’odua Peoples
Congress (OPC), on Wednesday expressed support for the re-introduction of a two-party system, to
discourage regional political parties in the country.
Faseun told The Tide’s source in Lagos that the two-party
arrangement would tackle some of the challenges confronting the country at the
moment.
The response of the OPC founder was sequel to the call for a
two-party political system by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
Atiku made the remark at the 2012 Leadership Newspapers
Annual Conference on September 18 in Abuja.
“I do agree with Atiku and I support the call for a
two-party system.
“It makes politics more interesting, focused, and functional
as it was in the botched third republic, with the Social Democratic Party (SDP)
and the National Republican Convention (NRC)’’.
Faseun said corruption was not as pronounced then, as the
government was doing its best to make life more meaningful to the citizens.
“The corruption that has become an order of the day now, was
less at that time.’’
However, the National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption
Party (PRP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa, condemned the call for a two-party
arrangement..
According to him, the campaign for a two-party had been
ongoing since in the 1990s.
“Some conservative political leaders in Nigeria were
campaigning for a one-party system up to 1986.
“But when they saw that Nigeria will not accept it, they
came up with a two-party system, and Nigeria will not still accept it,’’ he
said.
Musa said the idea behind the call for a two-party system
was to alternate governance among the two parties in the country.
The PRP chief said America and Britain formed and recognised
political parties freely.
He said the electorate in those countries decided the two
prominent parties, without the extinction of the other parties.
Musa described the call for only two political parties in Nigeria
as “selfish’’.
“If Nigeria really wants democracy and wants to move with
time, there should be free formation and recognition of political parties.
“Ultimately, it is the voters that will decide the state not
only a political party or a candidate. This is what will work in a developing
country like Nigeria,’’ Musa said.
Also, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, the National Secretary
of the Labour Party (LP), condemned the call for a two-party democratic system.
According to him, restricting people to two-party system is
depriving them of their fundamental human rights.
“The call is out of tune with democratic activities in the
world. There should be freedom of respect in every angle of democratic
dispensation of the world,’’ the LP scribe said.
Abdulsalam said more than two parties exist in America and
Britain, adding that only two were pronounced as it was in Nigeria.
Mr Toyin Raheem, the Secretary General of Campaign for
Constitutionalism and Human Rights (CCHR), also condemned the call for a
two-party state.
He said the constitution supported the freedom of
association.
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
guarantees freedom of Association.
“So, if we want to go by the law, a two-party arrangement
will mean an infringement on the rights of the citizens,’’ he said.
Politics
… Vote Buyers Attack EFCC Operatives In Kaduna

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says its operatives were attacked in Kaduna on Saturday during the governorship and state houses of assembly elections held across the country.
In a statement on Saturday by Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesperson, the commission said the operatives came under attack at School Road in Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna, while attempting to arrest a suspected vote buyer identified as Kabiru Musa.
Uwujaren said the suspect was seen in a video inducing voters by using his phone to transfer money into their accounts after they cast their votes.
“Immediately he was accosted by the operatives, Musa became unruly and screamed to attract the attention of his syndicate members, who descended on the operatives, using all manner of weapons that left some of them injured. It took great restraints for the operatives to ignore the unprovoked attack but insisted on arresting the suspect,” the statement reads.
“As the team drove away with the suspect, their vehicle was pelted with stones and other dangerous objects that damaged the windshield and three operatives suffered varying degrees of injuries in the process.
“The injured operatives are currently receiving medical attention at the Medical Centre of the Kaduna Zonal Command, while the suspect is in custody, pending conclusion of the investigation.
“It will be recalled that EFCC teams were similarly attacked during the presidential and national assembly elections, leaving some of its vehicles badly damaged.”
Reacting to the incident, Abdulrasheed Bawa, EFCC chairperson, commended the operatives for exercising restraint under extreme provocation.
He, however, appealed to the public to desist from attacking officers of the commission as it would no longer be tolerated.
Politics
Gov’ship/State Assembly Polls: EFCC Arrests 65 Suspects Over Vote Buying

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says its operatives arrested 65 persons across the country over alleged voter inducement.
EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, announced the development on Saturday in a statement on the commission’s monitoring activities of the governorship and state houses of assembly elections across the country.
He said 20 of the suspects were arrested in Kwara, while 13 suspects were arrested in Kaduna state.
He added that 12 suspects were arrested in Rivers; four each in Akwa Ibom and Cross River, while others were apprehended in Gombe, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Niger states.
“Those arrested in Kaduna State were 10 males and three females. They were apprehended by EFCC operatives either working on intelligence reports or were chanced upon during monitoring,” the statement read.
“A suspect allegedly involved in vote buying was nabbed at School Road, Unguwan Rimi in Kaduna. The suspect, who initially resisted arrest, is however in custody pending the conclusion of investigation.
“Also in Kaduna, a team arrested a suspect with voter coupons, which he confessed would be used to trace and pay those who voted for his party”, the statement added.
The EFCC also said its team monitoring voting around Local Education Authority School, Kabala Doki in Kaduna, arrested two suspects for vote buying, while the sum of N67,500, a list containing names of voters and bank account details were recovered from the suspects.
“Some of the items recovered from the suspects were voter cards, monies, lists containing names and account details of voters, and telephone recharge cards,” he added.
Politics
Alleged Party Name Omission, NNPP Candidate Threatens Suit Against INEC

Olufemi Ajadi, the governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Ogun State, says the party will sue the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the “omission of the party’s name from ballot papers”.
Ajadi spoke with journalists on Saturday after casting his vote at Ofada, Obafemi Owode LGA of Ogun state.
The NNPP candidate said he was “disappointed” over the conduct of the governorship and house of assembly elections in the state.
Ajadi said the party had earlier written a letter to INEC to ensure the inclusion of his party’s name on the ballot paper, instead of only the logo.
“As you can see, we cannot see security everywhere. In my polling unit, where I cast my vote, the APC gathered hoodlums to attack me,” he said.
“I’m so disappointed in this country. I’m so disappointed about the leaders that we have. People can’t move around freely to the extent that they were dragging guns with my security. Can you imagine? No, this is not an election.
“On the ballot paper, I can’t see my party, the NNPP. After writing to INEC, to make amendment before the election and today is an election, we can’t find the name, only the logo.
“By the grace of God, we are going to court to challenge INEC on reasons why they failed to put our name on the ballot paper. I’m disappointed in INEC”, he lamented.
When The Tide source checked the list of political parties on INEC website, it was observed that the name of the party was not inscribed on the party’s logo.
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