Indications are that the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) is seeking the replacement of about 130 candidates of the party for the State Houses of Assembly, National Assembly and Deputy governors position to enable them to participate in the poll.
The party on that premise has appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to, as a matter of urgency, comply with the court orders that give backing to the name substitution.
Tracknews reports that the NNPP’s National Chairman, Professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali said it has become very imperative for INEC to carry out the replacement of candidates because the cases were expeditiously delivered by the courts.
According to him, if INEC complies with the order, it would further build up the confidence of political parties and the general public in the commission’s unflinching and unwavering commitment to conducting free, fair and credible election in the 2023 general elections.
Alkali told newsmen on Wednesday that the party has confidence in the electoral body and its trusting that it would do the needful as per the court order so that candidates involved can continue with their various campaign activities.
The NNPP national chairman submitted that “We also as a party and the party leaders and people are looking at us and the only way is to go to the courts and they have also given us relief. That is why we are saying that all those people whose names have now been approved by the court as we are praying, pleading with INEC to do the needful. Let them process everything and they are going to continue with the process of our elections.
“We have invited you members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm to brief you on activities involving our party, NNPP, especially our court matters with the Independent National Electoral Commission. Our party has reasons to take INEC to court over disagreements on the issue of uploading and submission of the names of some of our candidates.
“Our great party, New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) wishes to use this medium to express our appreciation and gratitude to the Nigerian judiciary for being the last bastion of hope for the people and a pillar of democracy and democratic processes particularly leading to the 2023 general election.
“We also wish to use this medium to most especially appreciate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under the able leadership of amiable Patriotic Prof. Mahmood Yakubu for its h sense of responsibility to the promotion of rule of law and commitment to conducting the most credible election in 2023.
“In the same spirit, we most humbly urge the Commission to urgently comply with the Court orders expeditiously delivered by the courts so as to further build up the confidence of the political parties and the general public in the Commission’s unflinching and unwavering commitment to conducting free, fair and credible election in the 2023 general elections.
“We appreciate the enormity of the assignments before INEC. We, however, believe the Commission should continue to implement Court rulings, the better for our Country.
“We want to use this opportunity to assure Prof. Mahmood Yakubu of our confidence in him and his Commission to deliver a sound election that will stand the test of time. We, therefore, pledge our unflinching support for him and INEC.”
