Our deputy governorship candidate sold his ticket, abandoned party, says NNPP chair

• Published date: 12 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

INEC asked to obey court order to allow candidates' substitution

The National Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Prof. Ahmed Rufai Alkali, yesterday alleged that the party's deputy governorship candidate in Yobe State sold his ticket and abandoned the race for the March 11 election.

Addressing reporters yesterday in Abuja on why the party took the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court and obtained judgment to substitute some of its candidates, Alkali said the candidate, who he did not name, reportedly collected N500 million to abandon the ticket.

The national chairman said the NNPP had to approach the courts when INEC refused to substitute some of its candidates who left the party and abandoned the ticket.

He said the Federal High Court had directed the commission to substitute the candidates with new ones the party forwarded to the INEC.

Alkali said: 'Our party has reasons to take INEC to court over disagreements on the issue of uploading and submission of names of some of our candidates.'

The national chairman hailed the Judiciary for being the last bastion of hope for the people and a pillar of democracy and democratic processes, particularly in its duties towards this year's general election.

He said the NNPP had benefitted immensely from the sound judgments of the Federal High Court and the Appeal Court, which were delivered with dispatch, despite the court's overcrowded schedules.

Alkali said: '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 high 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 confidence of the political parties and general public in the commission's unflinching and unwavering commitment to conducting free, fair and credible elections in 2023.

'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...