*Says it's ploy to hamper preparations of stakeholders By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan A South West chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, (
*Says it’s ploy to hamper preparations of stakeholders
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
A South West chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo on Thursday, asked the National Assembly not to move the 2027 general elections to 2026
Ambassador Ajadi in a statement made available to journalists, said that moving the 2027general election to next year, (2026) will hamper adequate preparations for the election by various political parties, the intending candidates and the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).
The NNPP Chieftain in the statement frowned at the proposed shift of the election from 2027 to 2026, saying the National Assembly should not put pressure on political parties, the intending candidates and the Independent National Electoral Commission, ( INEC) by rushing them into the election.
“I urge the National Assembly not to move the 2027 elections to 2026. Election is a serious and important issue for national development. We don’t need to rush the political parties, the intending candidates and the INEC into preparations”, he said.
Ambassador Ajadi added, ” Election requires proper and adequate planning.This will take time. Political parties needs adequate time and finances to recruit candidates, while candidates in turn need to plan adequately”.
“I think we can just appeal to the Judiciary to give priority to election petitions and ensure that they are dispense off on time. Moving general elections to 2026 will cripple governance almost immediately and this is not good for a country like Nigeria that is trying to fix its economy”.
The NNPP governorship candidate in Ogun state during the 2023 general election reminded the National Assembly that election is a serious matter that requires adequate preparations by the INEC, the political parties and the candidates that will participate in the election.
According to Ambassador Ajadi, the excuse for the shift of the election backward so that all election petitions should have been concluded before May 29, 2027 hand over date does not hold water, saying, “it is the duty of the Judiciary and the petitioners not to delay the petitions”
Stressing that the same reason was advanced leading to shift of the election to between February and March of election year, the NNPP Chieftain said the shift in the date of the election to 2026 will further weaken the political institutions and turned the country into early politics and less governance.
“We cannot be in a perpetual election period, governance is necessary for the country’s development. The National Assembly should be cautious of severe negative implications of bringing 2027 election forward to 2026”
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