Newly registered party ready for Kogi and Bayelsa elections

The newly registered Democratic Peoples’ Congress (DPC), says it will field candidates to contest governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states.

The elections are scheduled to hold on November 21, 2015 in Kogi and December 5, 2015 in Bayelsa state.

This resolution formed part of the communiqué issued at the end of its inaugural National Executive Committee (NEC), meeting held in Abuja on Saturday, August 8, 2015.

The communiqué signed by the DPC National Chairman, Rev. Olusegun Peters, showed that primaries to decide candidates for the Kogi and Bayelsa seats would be held on September 12, 2015 and September 28, 2015 respectively.

'The NEC resolved that our great party shall field candidates to contest the forthcoming Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections.

'NEC also urged credible Nigerians, who desired to contest these elections on the platform of the DPC to obtain the party’s nomination form for a fee of N5 million,' the communiqué stated.

It said that the sale of nomination forms for Kogi State governorship would start from Aug. 12, while the nomination form for Bayelsa governorship poll would be on sale from from September 1, 2015.

The party resolved to strengthen its structures in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, and directed state chapters to embark on massive sensitisation and mobilisation of new members.

The DPC also resolved to uphold internal democracy at all levels in its determination to be 'the third force' in Nigeria’s political equation.

The party also declared its resolve to partner with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to ensure free, credible, transparent and acceptable elections in the country.

'NEC also urged INEC to improve on electronic voting system as obtainable in most part democracies around the world.

'This will eliminate electoral malpractices, and violence that have characterised elections in Nigeria since independence in 1960,’ the communiqué stated.

The party appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to consider patriotic citizens outside the ruling All Progressives Congress APC for appointments as ministers and heads of federal government agencies in line with the federal character principle.

The DPC urged Buhari to intensify the war against corruption by strengthening the EFCC, ICPC, the Police and the Judiciary to ensure speedy trial of persons suspected to have looted the nation’s treasury.

'The war against corruption should be holistic, irrespective of political party affiliation. There should be zero tolerance for corruption that has impeded Nigeria’s development and dented its image around the world.'

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Democratic Peoples’ Congress (DPC) was registered by INEC on June 19.