LG: Polls: NNPC Moves To Upstage PDP

Even as the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) concluded its primaries last Saturday, the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) says the party is battle ready to wrest power from the PDP in Ogbe/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government election.

The state chairman of the party, Deacon Princewill Enyi, who confirmed the readiness of the party last Friday in an interview with newsmen disclosed that the party will hold its primaries on Wednesday, noting that the party is filling credible candidates in all the positions up for grab.

Enyi assured that all aspirants will be given equal opportunities, adding that the party respect internal democracy and do everything to uphold it.

The party chairman expressed displeasure over the decision of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) not to release grants approved by the state government for the participating political parties in the election.

According to him, “for the RSIEC not to disburse the fund to the political parties for the election is wrong. Why must they wait till after the election”.

“Internal democracy has a lots to do with the funding.  The political parties need funds to hold its primaries and mobilises it members”, he said.

He also said the party is comfortable with the time table released by RSIEC last month, adding that his party is working with it to ensure victory at the polls.

The NNPP chairman whose party escaped the hammer of the National Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) faulted the judgement of the electoral body and said such criteria used by INEC was wrong.

According to him, “if INEC used the performance of the parties in an election to judge, then it is wrong because if I do not win today, I might win tomorrow”.

“INEC should note that the constitution of the country supercedes the Electoral Act which the body’s decision of deregistration of political parties is 90 per cent derived from”, he said.

He said it is high time INEC knows that they are not supremacist, adding that there are still election court cases which are still on.

The party boss said the electoral body acted too fast, adding that they should have waited after the review of the constitution review as he urged INEC to maintain, sustain, retain the funding of polls in the country.

Nwobize Faith/Emeka Ogbugo Nyeoma