New political party seeks poll extension over ballot papers
AThe New NigeriaNigeri Peoples Party (NNPP) has adopted PresidentPresid Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the March 28 election. Jona Jonathan, the candidate of the Peop Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had earlier been adopted by a hos host of other political parties, in including the All Progressive G Grand Alliance (APGA) and
the Unity Party of Nigeria
new political party known as Young Democratic Party (YDP) has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reprint ballot papers to include it in the rescheduled general elections or postpone it again.
Addressing newsmen yesterday in Abuja shortly after its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Barr Ugo Nwofor said a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had on Wednesday ordered INEC to issue it certificate as a registered political party and include it in the March 28 and April 11 general elections.
“If INEC does not have the appropriation of logistics for reprinting of its ballot papers then INEC ought to within the constitutional provision further re-schedule the general elections so as to accommodate our party.
“In either of the two options, our party is ready. It has been a long journey for YDP. We wish above all things that INEC would explore the first option. Court did not order INEC to register YDP. Court ordered INEC to issue certificate and include YDP in the 2015 general elections,” he said.
The new party said it is ready for the elections in accordance with INEC’s timetable, adding that its National Executive Committee (NEC) has approved the sales of expression of interest and nomination forms for interested party members.
He said the nomination forms for House of Assembly is N200,000, House of Representatives 500,000, Senate 1,000,000, governorship (3,000,000 and presidential 15,000,000.00).
He said as a gender friendly party, the nomination forms for women in all categories is free except for a processing fee of N100,000.
According to him, the party has slated governorship/House of Assembly primaries for March 26, 2015 and presidential/Senate/House of Representatives for March 27, 2015, ahead of the March 28 and April 11 polls.
But an INEC commissioner who craved anonymity in a telephone interview with Daily Trust said:”we are yet to be officially served. But mind you, INEC has right of appeal.”