The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), led by Dr Boniface Aniebonam, has openly blamed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its setbacks in concluding screenings and fixing its primaries for aspirants of the party.
The party also said that with no option left, it might have to mobilise for protest against the commission in Abuja.
Recall that the party shelved its planned protest against INEC over delays in uploading the authentic leadership of the party to its website, following appeals by well-meaning Nigerians that it might be hijacked by hooligans to cause mayhem.
However, in a statement on Thursday, the party’s national secretary, Mr Ogini Olaposi, stated that INEC is again pushing the NNPP to the wall with inexplicable delays that might deny the party its rights to fully participate in the 2027 general elections.
“We used all legal means via the courts to get the commission to comply with court orders and stop the unnecessary delays which we believe are linked and masterminded by those who left the NNPP.
“The meeting between NNPP leadership and the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, and his management team at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja on May 19 gave us an insight into what we suspected may be causing the delay.
“The INEC chairman said the commission will revert soon, and to date, it is yet to comply with the court order that gave it 72 hours to upload the NNPP National Working Committee (NWC) led by Dr Agbo Major.
“It is most unfortunate that INEC has refused to obey court orders, which sends a very wrong signal ahead of the election. INEC does not have the powers to disobey court orders.
“In every instance of any order of the court, the only option available to INEC is to obtain a stay of execution or to secure an appeal from a higher court to set aside the judgment or order of the court, which it has not done.”
According to Olaposi, it is most unfortunate and surprising that a Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, issued a compelling order to INEC to deregister the Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso-led Kwankwasiya Movement, claiming to be a faction of the NNPP, and the commission refused.
“The court also directed INEC to replace the Kwankwaso group with the authentic Agbo-led NWC and to also revert to the original logo, colour and symbol of the NNPP within 72 hours and file an affidavit of compliance within 14 days.”
According to Olaposi, 60 days after, the commission is yet to comply with the order of the court. The Owerri Appeal Court followed suit, and yet INEC leadership is adamant.
“As a regulatory agency of government, INEC must be seen to remain neutral at all times.
“How will a commission continue to uphold the leadership and logo of the Kwankwasiya movement, even when Nigerians know that Kwankwaso and his supporters are members of another party,” he stated.
According to Olaposi, the issue is not just about NNPP at the moment but the constitution of Nigeria and the judiciary to protect and guard their jurisdiction jealously.
Kwankwaso is now in the NDC with Buba Galadima, Dr Ahmed Ajuji, and even their spokesperson, Ladipo Johnson, and others.
“We keep wondering who is left from the group to still be claiming NNPP members and causing confusion that INEC has failed to see.
“Our right to protest is guaranteed by the Constitution. We can’t sit back and watch INEC continue to deny us the right to participate in an election as a duly registered political party in Nigeria.
“We have missed opportunities to participate in some off-cycle elections due to delays by the commission. We won’t let it happen again.
“This injustice must be corrected as we press for enforcement of court orders of the trial court of Justice Bello Kawu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.”
NAN
