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NCP Chairman faults Lagos poll, head to court as APC candidates’ promises new dawn

By Eniola Daniel
30 July 2017   |   4:13 am
The National Chairman of the National Conscience Party (NCP) Dr. Tanko Yinusa, has faulted the outcome of last week’s local government elections in Lagos, describing it as a systematic corruption against the people.

Dr. Tanko Yinusa, Martin Onovo, Waheed Lawal and Comrade Ayodele Akele and members of NCP at the last congress of the party head in Lagos

The National Chairman of the National Conscience Party (NCP) Dr. Tanko Yinusa, has faulted the outcome of last week’s local government elections in Lagos, describing it as a systematic corruption against the people. Speaking with The Guardian, he said “the assessment of last week election is simple; It is a systematic corruption against the people.

When you benefit from a system that brought you in and then contradict the system, it’s a corrupt practice.
Speaking with The Guardian, he said “the assessment of last week election is simple; It is systematic corruption against the people. When you benefit from a system that brought you in and then contradict the system, it’s a corrupt practice.

“ I prove my point to you with the example of three of APC states; Lagos, Jigawa and Benue, states controlled by a party and a president claiming to be fighting against corruption, making it its main programme of action; virtually all the system and everything they do goes against what they said they stand for.

Gani spearheaded the effort that led to the expansion of the democratic space by ensuring that the stringent conditions for the registration of political parties designed by INEC were declared illegal by the court.

Gani Fawehinmi, former governor of Kaduna State Balarabe Musa and other political figures effort to get the Nigeria politics normalised was also responsible for the APC victory in the 2015 elections, they system they now intend to destroy. The president (Buhari) did not pay any money before he became the president of Nigeria but now, here you are as a state, you now put up a monetary value before people can contest an election; thereby strategically denying candidates from contesting.

We took this particular issue of money before the election to court but the court came out to tell us some funny stories that are not acceptable to us. For us, the elections held in these APC states are total denial of the people and corrupt way of entrenching APC in governments; the action is one of the things causing trouble in Nigeria, when you are not fair to all concerns. The APC is hypnotically positioning itself to continually alienate the people. This is unacceptable.

The local government election is so important to anyone because it’s a grass root election, an election that give back to the grass root politics and give the people voices.

Reacting to the action of some youth in Lagos who took to playing football instead of casting their vote and some who concluded that the APC victory as a sure second term in office for Governor Akinwumi Ambode, he said, “Some of those people are members of apologist as it were. Even members of the APC are in court over the emergence of most of the party’s candidate, majority of them were handpicked. See what happened to Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi and the rest of them, so you cannot say that kind of process is fair.

In fairness, people must be allowed to ventilate their interest, let them contest elections accept anybody that emerge but denying others in any form is a recipe for anarchy and violence in the future.

On INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu conducting acceptable election in 2019, Tanko said “we appeal that the INEC chairman would be able to conduct a free and fair election in 2019; you can see some of the action he has taken so far, he’s trying to follow the rule of law so that court cases after election can be reduced and one of the best way to do so is going by electronic voting system that will enable the people to cast their votes at home without any intimidation or manipulation and without monetary inducement.

Our party is trying its best to reduce monetary induced in electoral process. It begins with everyone and every political party must take a cue from us by making their forms free for any contestant as long as they meet the statutory requirement.

Today in Nigeria, if you don’t have billions of naira in your account, you cannot contest a local government election and win; anyone with the popularity should be able to contest for elective position so, for us, it is very important that the rule of law must be adhere; we will support the INEC chairman in the area has shown interest especiallyto follow the rule and guidelines of our electoral system.

On his party next line of action, he said “we are already in court and we will continue to go to court in any way we feel we are been disenfranchise
Speaking with The Guardian on his emergence as Chairman of Oshodi Isolo local government, Bolaji Muse Ariyoh who was elected for the second term said “As promised before the election, I will do my best to bring the state government presence to Oshodi- Isolo in terms of road construction as soon as funds is made available and as per issue of water, we know the plight of the people but since water provision is beyond what a local government can do, we are going to drill more boreholes for the people and we’ll ensure dividend of democracy.

“The turnout was massive despite yesterday’s rain because the people still believe in us and we are not going to disappoint them.

On his part, the Elected Chairman of Apapa LGA, Adele Elijah Owolabi while promising a new dawn in the area said “The people of Apapa can expect better governance, a government closer to the people than ever before.

One of the problem facing Apapa is the issue of lost of hours in traffic but I promise that very soon, they will see changes.

Just two weeks ago, the price of diesel came down from N250 to N150 so, I want to assure the people in no distance time the price of PMS will also fall to N50. The government is working assiduously to make sure that we calm the nerves of Nigerians.”

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