The standard bearer of the Unity Party of Nigeria in the 2015 election, Prince Rotimi Paseda, has offered to bear the expenses that would be required by all the party’s candidates contesting in the October 8local government elections in the state.
Towards this end, Paseda has made available a sum of N7million to enable all the UPN councillorship and chairmanship candidates to obtain the nomination forms, which he directed should be distributed free to all the shortlisted contestants cleared by the party’s screening committee.
Paseda, who disclosed this on Wednesday at a party meeting, explained that he took the decision as part of the efforts towards ensuring that UPN candidates contesting the LG and LCDA election in the state scaled the obstacles allegedly already put on their ways by the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission.
The UPN standard bearer stated that being a formidable opposition in the state, the party would continue to provide a conducive atmosphere for its members with a view to ensuring that it legitimately snatched away governance at the grassroots.
He added that the UPN would also continue to strive to effectively put the APC-led administration in the state on its toes.
Paseda assured that the UPN was ready to provide an alternative governance to the people of the state, if elected into positions in the forthcoming council election.
He further stated that the UPN, “Is an all-inclusive party that accommodates everybody in its fold. As a result, I will make available a total sum of N7million for all the candidates to enable them obtain their nomination forms. Therefore, no candidate on the platform of the UPN is expected to pay for any form.
“The party is battle-ready for the forthcoming election as a means of providing an alternative means of governance and the dividends of democracy to our people at the grassroots. The local government election is a prelude for the 2019 general elections and we shall continue to seek the support of the people at ensuring a better Ogun State of our dream.”
Also speaking, the state party chairman, Funmilayo Oginni, alleged that the party was aware of some of the traps set by the state government through OGSIEC to truncate the electoral process and frustrate candidates of other political parties from participating in the forthcoming LG poll.
“We are not unaware of the gimmicks and tricks employed by the electoral body, OGSIEC and the state government to truncate the electoral process through the highly inflated tax clearance fee and the short notice to prepare for the election. But we would continue to challenge every threat to our democracy,” Oginni said.
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