The Young Progressive Party, YPP, says it is committed to peaceful, free, and fair November 8 Governorship election process in Anambra State, as a progressive political party.
The party asserted that at least, so far, it has conducted its political campaigns with utmost civility and laser focus on governance issues.
Ebuka Onyekwelu, PhD, the Spokesman and Media Director of the party’s flag bearer in Anambra State, Sir Paul Chukwuma Campaign Council, in a statement made available to the media, said that they did not get into the race to become distracted by mundane and fleeting talks that have no effect on people’s daily experience in the State.
The statement read in part, “The issues are simple: one, the governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Soludo is not doing much to justify the humongous amount of revenues he has managed on behalf of the people and government of Anambra State in over three years. Secondly, there is insecurity that the governor allowed to thrive and only began to show signs of interest in dealing with in an election year. Recall that Operation Udogachi was launched this year after years of waste of lives and properties under the governor’s watch. We are also saying that the amount of revenue collected so far does not correspond with the work we have on the ground in Anambra State. For instance, only this year, between January and June, the governor collected over N150 billion as FAAC allocation. Within the same period, Anambra State also collected over N60 billion as LGA allocation. We are saying that these funds do not reflect in our LGAs.
“We have offered Ndi Anambra a credible alternative on our party’s platform, the YPP. We are also focused on delivering good governance, which our candidate, Sir Paul Chukwuma, shall realise through his three point agenda, otherwise called the HIS Agenda – Human capital development, Infrastructure Development and Security.
According to onyekwelu, the message from Paul Chukwuma and Uzu Okagbue is that Anambra Deserves Better, noting also that the people are keying into it because they know that indeed, they deserve more than they get currently.
He informed that they have been mobilising extensively, and many of the people are out there at coalition centres at their wards, picking up their PVCs.
He urged them not to relent, adding that they are confident that Ndi Anambra will pass a final verdict of no confidence on the current government with their votes, in exactly two weeks.
The Media aide, however, noted that beyond all these which demonstrate their readiness to comply in ensuring a free and fair election on November 8, they demand that;…
“1. The Anambra State Government sponsored armed militias parading prohibited firearms must be completely excluded from this election process.
“2. That the INEC must not look away and allow the current administration in Anambra State to continue to carry on as if it is above the laws. INEC must investigate the government’s expenditure so far and apportion punishment as it is appropriate for overspending.
“3. The INEC must be clear and definite on the troubling issue of vote buying which the current Anambra State Government has taken to a new level during the last by-election in Anambra State. Is vote buying now normal in our election process?
“In all, we make bold to demand that the INEC demonstrates an impeccable commitment to its own rules. This will naturally influence stakeholders’ compliance towards ensuring free and credible polls on November 8,” the release concluded.
