The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it
would release list of registered new political parties out of the 95 political
associations seeking INEC registration, tomorrow.
INEC boss, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who made the disclosure at
the ongoing workshop on the Review of Communication Policy in Kaduna State,
said the Commission would equally give update on the Continuous Voter
Registration (CVR) after the deliberations.
He insisted that governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, was
involved in double registration, even as he assured voters in Anambra State
that they would take delivery of their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) before the
governorship election slated for November.
Giving update on the registration of political parties, the
Elections Management Board (EMB) boss said: “Let me assure Nigerians that
under the Electoral Act, the Commission is required to register new political
parties and the guidelines for registration are very clear.
“As at last week, we have received a total of 95 political
associations seeking registration as political parties. However, by the end of this
workshop, there is going to be a retreat to review the ongoing voter
registration followed by a meeting of the Commission in Kaduna and there be a
statement on the registration of the political parties,” he said.
Meanwhile, former National Chairman of the Labour Party (
LP) has unveiled a new political party, Advanced Peoples Democratic
Alliance (APDA).
He said the party, which is yet to be registered by
INEC would herald a new era in the country.
Although the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain,
Chief Raymond Dokpesi was present at the unveiling of the new party, his
level of involvement could not be ascertained as at press time.
Speculations have been rife that Senator Ahmed Makarfi
supporters planned to dump the main opposition party if the Supreme Court
judgment on the PDP leadership crisis did not favour their faction.
Nwanyanwu said the formation of the new party was
borne out of patriotic desire to give Nigeria a truly progressive party.
He noted that although most of the existing political
parties pride themselves as progressives, they were at best reactionary
elements.
“APDA as a social democratic movement has a single purpose
and mission of ensuring that every Nigerian, no matter the creed, culture,
learning and social grouping have equal and unfettered access to all accruing
dividends of citizenship,” Nwanyanwu stated.
He promised that the APDA would provide a level playing
field for all members of the party. He added that in the new party,
the office of president would rotate between the North and the South, with
all the geo-political zone talking turns to produce a president for the
country.
According to him, the governorship and local
government chairmanship position would also rotate among the three senatorial
zones. The interim National Chairman, Kabiru Shittu promised that
if elected into
office, the APDA would give Nigeria a new
beginning.
He said the party would be committed to internal democracy,
where party candidates would be elected through direct primaries. He
added that 25 per cent of elective positions in the party would be reserved for
the youths, while the women and physically challenged would get 30 and
five per cent respectively.
Meanwhile, the Makarfi-led faction of the PDP, in a
statement issued by Prince Dayo Adeyeye, has denied any link with the APDA.
“In the last few hours, we have received numerous calls from
our party members, concerned citizens and well wishers on our association or
otherwise with the Advance Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA).
“For the avoidance of doubt, we reiterate once again that we
are not in any way associated with the new party in any form or guise. The APDA
is neither an offshoot of the PDP nor its alter ego as some are speculating.
This statement is made purely to set the records straight and to avoid
unnecessary innuendos, speculations and ambiguity that may threaten the
continued unity and solidarity of our party members.
“We thank millions of well-meaning Nigerians for their
concern and commitment to the defence of our nascent democracy. In the end,
this democracy cannot survive without a strong and vibrant opposition,” the
statement said.
By Ndubuisi Orji
