Politics

Our blurred logo denied me electoral victory, says NNPP candidate

Published

1 year ago

March 3, 2023

Mrs. Helen Mbakwe, a candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), said she lost the Senatorial election due to the blurred logo of the party.

Mbakwe, who contested for the Anambra Central Senatorial seat, attributed her inability to secure the seat to none identification of the party’s logo on the ballot paper for the February 25 elections.

She made this known at a presss conference she organised in Awka on Friday.

“The challenges of my party’s logo identification experienced by those who voted and those who intended to vote for me were too much.

“Our logo was blurred or practically non existent on the ballot papers, thereby confusing my voters,” she said.

Mbakwe condemned in the strongest terms the poor handling of the printing of the Party’s Logo on the Ballot Papers by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

She said the act frustrated her ambition and the bright chances she had to contribute to a better Nigeria.

“We all know the details of the logo of NNPP, which is ‘Basket of Fruits’ and the Party’s name, NNPP, whereas INEC presented nothing that looked like basket of fruits and the acronym NNPP on the Ballot Paper.

“The NNPP logo on INEC’s Ballot Paper confused many of my supporters and they voted any party like (LP and YPP,” she said.

She also said that the parts of Anambra Central where her strong supporters were like in Idemili North and South, INEC officials never showed up till noon and thereabouts on election day.

“This, too, disenfranchised many early birds who had trooped out to vote for me.

“I am still ready to serve my people because I believe strongly in the principles of the rule of law, equity, equality, fairness and justice.

“My patriotism is unflinching and my zeal to contribute to repairing my Country is still alive and burning,” she said.

Mbakwe alleged that the part played by INEC is worrisome and suspicious.

She said that after giving the whole scenario a deep thought, she had resolved to take a legal action against the process in a law Court.

“I am talking with my lawyers as I will be calling for a cancellation of the Senatorial Election result as I was completely left out of the voting processes after having campaigned vigorously.

“I urge our people and supporters of NNPP as well as Nigerians to be calm while the leaders of our great party chart a course for us as regards the errors perpetuated by INEC against us,” she said.

Mbakwe commended the media in Nigeria for living up to expectations before, during and after the Presidential elections.

She said they worked to keep within the dictates and norms of Journalism.

She also commended the electorate in Anambra Central Senatorial District, for defying the threat of no election by none state actors to take active part in the election.

Mbakwe appreciated the democratic spirit of the electorate to participate in the 2023 Elections.

She expressed her utmost love and appreciation to all those who voted for her, especially her community, Abatete, for their block votes.

“Despite the short period that I joined the race to campaign. I am glad to have garnered the number of votes I did.

“I want to congratulate Sen. Victor Umeh for emerging victorious. I wish him well as he works for the interest of our people in all circumstances and situations at the Red Chamber.

“To me and the other candidates, I most sincerely commend the spirit of sportsmanship we exhibited throughout the contest until a winner was announced.

“We will always let brotherly love rule,” she said.

Headline

I’ll Turn Ondo Into Another Lagos, Says Wale Akinterinwa Ahead Of APC Primaries

Published

2 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Gift Oyekunmi

Wale Akinterinwa, a governorship hopeful on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), says he will turn Ondo into another Lagos, the country’s commercial capital, if elected governor.

The Ondo APC governorship primary election is scheduled for April 20 while the state-wide election will be held on November 16.

Speaking during his official declaration at the ruling party’s secretariat in Akure, the state capital, on Tuesday, Akinterinwa said he will make Ondo an industrialised state.

The governorship hopeful who had worked in Lagos civil service, said he would utilise the natural resources in the state to attract investments.

“We will turn Ondo into another Lagos state in terms of development because we have what it takes, in terms of coast. We must ensure that the port comes alive and that will be a game changer,” Akinterinwa said.

“But, beyond that, we also have the landmass and ought to be an agrarian state. So, we are going to take agriculture to the next level while we encourage and support the local farmers.

“We will also attract investors who will invest in agriculture so that we will be exporting finished products. We will not just be producing for the table but we will be producing for export.”

On security, Akinterinwa said his economic initiatives would get most youth employed and lead to reduction in the rate of insecurity in the state.

“For security, part of our challenges today is because today is because we have many unemployed youths. So, Amotekun founded by our late governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and other South West governors will be strengthened so that with appropriate security in place, we can have development,” he said.

Headline

Why I Ignored Labour Party National Convention — Peter Obi

Published

3 weeks ago

March 30, 2024

Gift Oyekunmi

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party for 2023 elections has declared his stance on the recent national convention of the party that saw Barr Julius Abure emerge as Julius Abure emerge as national chairman.

Addressing Nigerians on X Space hosted by Parallel Facts on Friday, Peter Obi said he ignored the convention because the party leadership under Abure failed to do wide consultation with key stakeholders of the party before embarking on the said convention.

The former Anambra Governor emphasised the need for the right thing to be done to salvage the party, adding that he is more passionate about building a new Nigeria than building a new Labour Party.