Politics
2023: Adhere To Electoral Laws, INEC Guidelines, Katsina NNPP Cautions Candidates
The Katsina State chapter of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, on Saturday, held what the party called a special meeting with all its 88 candidates for the various posts in the forthcoming 2023 general election.
In attendance at the meeting which took place in Katsina were the party’s Governorship candidate in the election, Nura Khalil, his deputy, Mutaqa Darma; the three Senatorial candidates; the fifteen House of Representatives’ candidates; the 34 State House of Assembly candidates, and the 34 Local Government Areas’ chairmanship candidates.
Also at the meeting were the state chairman of the party, Sani Liti, and party executives from the 34 Local Government Areas of the state. The meeting, which began at 11:25am and lasted about four hours, discussed essentially strategies being put in place by the various candidates to win in the general election.
The meeting also discussed how the candidates and other party members would not run foul of electoral laws. The party chairman told the attendees to be wary of various guidelines concerning campaigns, including contents of the campaigns, and on the need to follow the timetable issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Liti told the attendees: “Now that Nigerians have rejected the ruling party, i.e. the All Progressives Congress, at the national and state levels and also the Peoples Democratic Party, our party, the NNPP, is best placed to win the general election.
My advice is that we should tidy up our end and be mindful of the various electoral laws, particularly those guiding campaigns and the contents of the campaigns. We should follow INEC timetable for campaigns. We should also engage on issues-based campaigns. With the calibre of our candidates and members including new members from the APC and the PDP, we shall have a good showing in the elections, Masha Allah.”
The party’s governorship and the deputy governorship candidates in Katsina State equally spoke in the same vein.
The duo implored party candidates, stakeholders and members not to relent in their efforts for the party to win in the general election.
The deputy governorship candidate further declared: “We should not relent in our current efforts to win in the 2023 elections. In Katsina State, for instance, it is glaring people are tired of the APC. Our party is people’s choice. Quite a number of youths and children are either out of school or jobless in Katsina State due to government anti-people’s policies. In Katsina State, we have about 10 million people. Out of this figure, about 6.3 million are youths, while over three million out of the 6.3 million are jobless, engaging in such illegal ventures such as hooliganism, informants to criminals, etc. All these the NNPP is set to correct once we are elected into the office in 2023. We should, however, be mindful of the various electoral laws and should not run foul of them.”
Other party candidates at the meeting in their various submissions said they were impressed with the ways residents of the state were accepting the NNPP.
They were also confident of victory in the general election.
Accordingg to the statement, the Board and National Executive Committee of PANDEF, noted with very grave concern the recent spate of political developments in Rivers State.
“Regrettably, these developments have now degenerated into the decision of the Rivers State House of Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against the governor and deputy governor.
“This is a deeply disturbing situation that demands urgent attention in order to forestall further escalation and breakdown of law and order.
“This concern is heightened by the critical importance and strategic centrality of Rivers to the Niger Delta region and to the broader socio-political stability and economic wellbeing of Nigeria as a whole”, the statement said.
The Forum called on all parties involved in the resurgent political imbroglio to sheathe their swords and embrace peace.
“This should be guided by the principles of give-and-take, dialogue, tolerance, and political equanimity.
“All stakeholders must place paramount importance on peace, development and the welfare of the people of Rivers.
“We must now focus squarely on good governance and development of the state,” the Forum said.
PANDEF commended President Bola Tinubu, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), respected elders of Rivers State, and other well-meaning Nigerians for their previous and ongoing efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability in the state.
Speaking in an interview on Saturday, January 10, Chief Sara-Igbe alleged that the minister had flouted regulations governing the commencement of electioneering campaigns by moving from one local government area to another to galvanise political support.
According to him, the action amounted to a clear breach of electoral guidelines being carried out with a troubling sense of impunity that could undermine the rule of law.
“Wike has violated the electoral laws of campaigning by going from local government to local government to talk to the people. He travelled from one local government to another. As a result of his visits to local government areas, he has broken election regulations and continues to do all these things without fear of repercussions”, Chief Sara-Igbe said.
The remarks came as Chief Wike was set to round off a state-wide “thank-you” tour that covered all 23 local government areas of Rivers State.
Although the minister had described the tour as an appreciation visit following support for President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 general elections, critics say the engagements have assumed an overtly political character.
Observers note that during several stops, including recent visits to Andoni and Bonny local government areas, the minister rallied supporters across party lines under what he termed a “Rainbow Coalition,” a move widely interpreted as part of a broader political strategy.
During these engagements, Chief Wike was also reported to have made remarks perceived as a veiled challenge to the authority of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, while repeatedly referencing the 2027 elections and urging supporters to prepare to “correct the mistake” of 2023.
Chief Sara-Igbe warned that allowing such activities to continue unchecked could erode public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process and called on relevant authorities to enforce existing laws without fear or favour.
The Commission, in a statement on Wednesday, claimed that there were plans by the same group to escalate a smear campaign against its Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, to frustrate ongoing investigations and prosecutions involving prominent individuals.
The statement endorsed by the agency’s spokesman, Mr Dele Oyewale, claimed that the action was intended to distract the Commission through unfounded allegations of political bias in the discharge of its duties.
The EFCC warned that it would not stand by and watch “those recruited into this ignoble enterprise” or allow any attempt to derail it from “the patriotic task of improving public accountability in Nigeria.”
The Commission made it clear that those recruited into this venture were under close watch, adding that it would not tolerate any attempt to distract it from the patriotic task of improving public accountability in Nigeria.
“The EFCC reiterates its non-political stance in all its activities. Facts on the ground clearly show that any political actor belonging to the ruling party or opposition party, with corruption baggage, has no hiding place from the operational radar and dynamics of the Commission.
“As a matter of fact, several strong members of the ruling and opposition parties are either facing trial before the courts or being investigated by the Commission.
“It is needful that Nigerians appreciate the fact that the Commission is keeping faith with its Establishment Act in all its operations.
“Therefore, the Commission reiterates its commitment to justice, without fear or favour, in the fulfilment of its mandate,” the statement pointed out.
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