ABUJA – Newly created Young Democratic Party yesterday, insisted that the Independent National Electoral Commission must postpone the forthcoming general elections to enable them prepare and participate therein.
The polls which were initially scheduled to hold on February 14 and 28, 2015 respectively for the Presidential/National Assembly and Gubernatorial/State Houses of Assembly were shifted in the first instance for May 28 and April 11, 2015, in deference to security advisory letter from the Nigeria Defence Council.
The party said this a day after the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the commission to register the party as a political party.
At a press briefing in Abuja, the party which gained its status as a registered political party through Wednesday declaration of an Abuja Federal High Court, called on INEC to re-schedule the general elections if it cannot accommodate it on its ballot paper.
Rising from an emergency meeting, the party said contrary to insinuations, the court did not order INEC to register the party, but rather INEC was ordered to issue certificate and include YDP in the 2015 general elections.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Ugo Nwofor, told journalists that there were only two options available to INEC namely, reprint ballot papers and include the YDP with a view to accommodate the party’s candidates or shift the elections.
“If INEC does not have the appropriation for logistics for re-printing of its ballot papers, then INEC ought to, within the constitutional provision, further re-schedule the general election 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 INEC would explore the first option”, the YDP spokesperson noted.
He maintained that in compliance with Sections 85 and 87 of the electoral Act, the party has fixed it governorship/House of Assembly and Presidential and National Assembly primaries for March 26 and 27 respectively.
Consequently, YDP according to Nwafor has approved sales of nomination forms as follows; Presidential (N15million), governorship (N3million), Senate (N1million), House of Representatives (N500,000) and House of Assembly (200,000).
“As a gender friendly party, the nomination forms for women in all categories is free, except for a processing fee of N100,000,” Nwafor added.
He described the Wednesday’s judgment as victory for democracy, rule of law and triumph over impunity.
jega attahiru
