*Commends INEC’s condemnation of few claiming ownership of political parties
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
A chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party, (NNPP), Comrade Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo on Wednesday, declared that a political party is not a sole proprietorship or a partnership business.
The NNPP Chieftain in a statement made available to newsmen, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) over its recent condemnation of few people claiming to own a political party purely because they are founding members.
He stressed that political parties are owned by members and that there is no single owner of a political party and that in a political party, all members are equal and that mostly, there are no founders and no joiners.
The NNPP gubernatorial candidate in Ogun State in the March 18 elections, emphasized that INEC has hit the nail on the head by saying that few people cannot run a party and that a party cannot function without people at the grassroots.
“This should be an eye opener to those who are claiming to be the owners of our party, the NNPP. INEC has spoken genuinely that some briefcase politicians claim to be owners of parties, but that political parties are owned by the people”, he said.
The NNPP Chieftain added, ” Those who are claiming the right of ownership in our party should know the end has come for their Shenanigans. Parties are owned by the people and not individuals.
“A political party is not a sole proprietorship or a partnership business. It is owned by all members irrespective of when they enter the parties. Parties are vehicles for elections and elections are won through the people”.
New Nigerian recalls that INEC acting Director, Department of Election and Party Monitoring, Hajiya Hauwa Habib said at a programme themed, ‘Validation Session: Needs assessment of political parties in Nigeria’ organised by The Kukah Centre and funded by the Europe Union, that to register a political party, the proponents must have a membership of 24 people from 24 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“The Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer continue to dominate everything about the political party. In their constitutions, they assign duties and schedules to every executive member. The Financial Secretary, Welfare Secretary, and Publicity Secretary are not allowed to perform their duties once the party is registered”.
Hajiya Habib stressed, ” in the long run, when it is a year or two towards election, you find the secretary and the chairman struggling on who owns the party. Thereabout, you find factionalisation, they give us problems during elections, rush to the courts, and the courts are not helping matters.
“They think that membership of a political party in Nigeria is a joke. It is through the political parties that governance and government are given to citizens. How do you think a political party with 24 people running the party can perform without a presence at the local level during elections?” She queried.
