NATIONAL Chairman of All-Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has said free and fair elections and democratic principles such as the entrenchment of internal democracy within the political parties make incumbency a non-issue. He stated while briefing pressmen at the Kaduna ANPP state secretariat yesterday, adding that all over the world he power of incumbency had been defeated on the ground of credible polls.
“Our interest is to have a free and fair elections in Nigeria in 2011. We want to set the pace for other political parties by ensuring that the principle of internal democracy is strictly followed in all the party’s selection processes. When there is free and fair elections as well as a level-playing ground, the power of incumbency will not come to bear on our electoral and political processes. An incumbent who has not done well, can be defeated on a fair ground,” Dr. Onu said.
“We in the ANPP are not happy with what is happening in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Unfortunately, it is PDP’s internal crisis and there is little or nothing that ANPP can do about it. But as equal political stakeholders, it is painful seeing PDP polarizing the nation into regional and ethnic divides. The ANPP is here to tell Nigerians that we are different. We will ensure internal democracy,” he said.
Dr. Onu further said that all actions of the party would be guided by fairness and justice at all times, especially during the 2011 general election, adding that the ANPP had always stood on its principle and motto which was justice.
Dr. Onu who was in the state on a working visit, commended both past and present ANPP leaderships in the state for remaining focused despite all the challenges it had encountered, saying the tradition of fair electoral process allowed for elections to be won or lost at the polling units.
On the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dr. Onu said it was too early for anyone or group to assess or judge INEC and its current leadership, adding that his party, ANPP, would continue to work with electoral body to ensure that the 2011 general elections was credible.
While lamenting the state of insecurity and the rate of kidnapping in Nigeria, especially in the eastern parts of the country, he said it was the responsibility of the Federal Government to secure lives and property irrespective of regions, adding that nation’s security agencies had not been living up to expectation.
He enjoined Nigerians to key in to the task of nation-building in order for us to collectively build a secure nation where all Nigerians irrespective of differences of tribe and tongue, religion or political affiliation will comfortably and confidently work or live any part of the country; which is really their right.
Dr. Onu, gave a hint on the activities of the party lined up to the 2011 general election when he announced that the party’s nomination forms would be on sale from Monday, October 18, 2010.