Estimated reading time: 12 minute(s)
Fawaz Adebisi
The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Ogun State chapter, has explained why the party withdrew the petition .
The party said it came to realize that electorates in the state still manage to vote for NNPP’s candidates on that same date, (March 18), “even though the INEC did not comply with the electoral act” which stipulated that the name and logo must be on the ballot.
He also cited examples of the NNPP’s candidates who won in some states, like the governorship candidate of the party and other candidates for the house of assembly and Reps, who were declared winners in Kano State.
Announcing the withdrawal of its petition filed before the Ogun State Election Petition Tribunal over the omission of the party’s name on the ballot papers used in the March 18, 2023 Governorship Election.
During a world press briefing held on Sunday, Comrade Sunday Oginni, the Chairman of the NNPP in Ogun State, provided insights into why the party had to take such a step.
While giving his speech, Comrade Oginni acknowledged the efforts of the party members to ensure victory in the last general election and how the omission of the party’s name affected their chances.
He also acknowledged that the party filed a petition challenging the outcome of the election, seeking total cancellation of the March 18th Governorship Election in the state.
The petition filed against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Governor Abiodun, and his party, All Progressives Congress (APC), also requested that the party be granted access to inspect, photocopy, scan, pay for, and obtain certified true copies of all the documents used in the conduct of the governorship election.
However, the Chairman of the NNPP in the state noted that despite the strong case they had, the party had decided to withdraw its petition from the Tribunal.
He admitted that the votes they got would have been much more in so many other places if their name was on the ballot with the party’s logo.
He said, “we know that despite the absence of our party’s name on the ballot papers, we still managed to win elections in some states. As we celebrate with our dear brothers in other states for their victory, we don’t want to create another problem for their victory by bringing issues that may create constitutional problems and be counter-productive to the development of the party.”
The Chairman explained that the party believed that if the petition seeking for the cancellation of the election in Ogun State was successful, it would alter the political calendar of Ogun State and bring disruption to the political system in the state.
He added that the party did not want to create another problem for their colleagues in other states who won the election, which could create constitutional problems and be counter-productive to the development of the party.
He said, “as we are celebrating with our dear brothers in other states for their victory, we don’t want to create another problem for their victory by bringing issues that may create Constitutional problems and counter-productive to the development of the party.
“With our petition seeking for the cancelation of election in Ogun State. We believe in the potency of that petition and if the petition survive, it will alter the political calendar of Ogun State and bring disruption to the political system in the state. ”
In the same vein, he emphasized that INEC must always be up and doing and must pay attention to details to ensure that things are properly done for all political parties.
He pointed out that putting a party’s name without its logo on the ballot box is a contradiction to the electoral act provisions that say that the name and logo of every political party shall be on the ballot.
He called on INEC to ensure that political parties are there to do the right thing at all times while also making sure they pay attention to details.
“INEC as an unbiased umpire and supervisor of our election, must make sure that political parties are there to do the right thing at all times while they also make sure they pay attention to details,” Oginni said.
He therefore added that with the withdrawal of the petition, NNPP Ogun State Chapter is ready to go back to the drawing board and plan ahead on how to win the 2027 election.
In the same vein, he appealed to the people of the state to stay calm and hope for a good government in a peaceful political atmosphere.
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