In order to prepare for the current move by the Federal Government to include diaspora voting in 2015 general elections, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, is opening special branches overseas, as it also computerizes its membership database and general operations.
This was revealed this afternoon by the National Chairman, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, during the Needs Assessment Visit of the UNDP to the party, at its National Headquarters in Abuja.
Dr Onu also averred that with the new trend of opposition parties in Nigeria winning State Governorship elections, the ANPP is now set to show the nation its substance, as it will now utilize this new trend to win elections and let the whole citizens see and feel the solid material it is made of and the deliverables Nigerian people shall gain from her.
The UNDP three-man delegation was also told that the ANPP has fundamental projects with which it prepares its members to impact on the nation’s fledgling democracy because, according to the National Chairman, the vision of the ANPP is to have the capacity not only to win election but to govern when elected.
The ANPP trains members at the state and ward levels; the party develops positions that will help to advance democracy in Nigeria; and the party plans to invite Nigerian experts who are doing very well outside the shores of the country to bring their expertise to bear in capacity building through seminars and lectures.
‘‘ANPP is a progressive party in that we are interested in the wellbeing of the Nigerian citizens; the people are at the centre of our philosophy as a party. We are currently driving a move away from politics of personality which is prevalent in the nation to an issues-based and ideas driven politics; what is critical is trying to address the problems the nation has, this is the only way the country will grow,’’ Dr Onu said.
‘‘We are happy that the UNDP has visited us, and we want you to work with us on capacity building and also in the area of information dissemination. We have processes and plans that help to deepen our internal democracy system and grow the capacity of our members and leaders. We will train our leaders at the state levels and then at the ward levels. We also develop positions that will help advance democracy in the country. We have plans to invite experts to lecture sessions; that is, Nigerians who are doing well outside the nation will be brought in to share their expertise with us in areas of health, agriculture, industry etc.
‘‘We are a progressive party and interested in leading the nation into an all-inclusive era of politics. The new trend of opposition winning elections in the country is going to set the ANPP up to have its substance to be seen and to be known. We want to equip our women; we want our young people to participate effectively; and we also encourage the disabled to join the political process.
‘‘As the Government wants to embark on diaspora voting, we are now computerizing our membership database. We also open up special branches, in the United States of America and in our neighboring countries here in West Africa. We are present everywhere, with structures in all the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT, since 1998.’’
The UNDP team which was lead by Mr Sadiq Abba, National Expert on Democratic Governance, said that their assignment in ANPP today was to ascertain the party’s weaknesses and strengths, in order to ascertain how to engage them in the ongoing political process.
In his address, Mr Abba said that they were happy that the ANPP is strong and working hard and are not discouraged by the vicissitudes of the Nigerian political atmosphere.
‘‘We are here because we want to know the level of engagement of the ANPP with the UNDP. This interaction is a guide to our work. We are happy that the ANPP strong and working hard, and is not discouraged by the prevailing vicissitudes of the Nigerian political environment,’’ he said.
When asked the ANPP’s relationship with INEC and the civil society, Dr Onu said that the party has made it known to INEC that elections must be free and fair, while also affirming that the 21-member National Rebuilding and Inter-Party Contact Committee recently set up by the ANPP shall relate with the civil society in order to see how the party can work with them for the general good of the country.
He said, ‘‘Our relationship with INEC is cordial. We also insist that elections must be free and fair. We have also told the National Assembly to help make it more free and fair through some legislative reforms. One is that elections should be held in one day. The other is that all matters, that is petitions, relating to the elections must be resolved and fully concluded in court before the swearing in.’’
Signed
Hon Emma Eneukwu
National Publicity Secretary
ANPP
