The Ogun state governorship candidate of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in the April 2015 general election, Otunba Rotimi Paseda has offered to shoulder all the financial expenses for all the party’s candidates that will be contesting the forthcoming local government elections in the state which is already slated for October 8th, this year.
Towards this end however, has made a total sum of N7 million available for all the party to enable UPN obtain the nomination forms which will be distributed free to all its shortlisted candidates who may have cleared by the party’s screening committee.
Paseda, who made this known last Wednesday during one of the party’s meeting, explained that he took the decision as part of the efforts towards ensuring that UPN candidates that will be contesting the LGs and LCDAs election in the state overcome the obstacles already set on their ways by the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC).
Paseda, who spoke through his Chief Media Strategist, Otunba Eddy Ademosu further stated that UPN as a formidable opposition party in Ogun state would continue to provide a conducive atmosphere for its members towards ensuring that is legitimately snatches away, the power of governance at the grassroots level and also effectively puts the APC led administration at the state on its toes.
He emphasized that UPN is battle ready to provide an alternative governance to the people of the state if elected into positions in the forthcoming council election.
The business mogul turn politician further stated that UPN “is all inclusive party that accommodates everybody into its folds. As a result, I will make available a total sum of Seven million naira for all candidates to enable them obtain their nomination forms. Therefore, no candidate on the platform of 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 dividends of democracy to our people at the grassroots. The local government election is a prelude for 2019 general election and we shall continue to seek support of the people at ensuring a better Ogun state of our dream.”
Also speaking, the state party chairman, Hon. Funmilayo Irede Oginni said that the party was not unaware of some of the traps set by the state government through OGSIEC to allegedly truncate the electoral processes and frustrate candidates of other political parties from participating in the forthcoming LG election.
“We are not unaware of the gimmicks and tricks employ by the electoral body, OGSIEC and the state government to allegedly truncate the electoral processes through the high inflated tax clearance fee and short notice to prepare for the election, but we would continue to challenge every threat to our democracy”.
Meanwhile, the party screening committee has commenced the screening of all aspirants on Wednesday and Thursday respectively, while the final list shall be submitted to OGSIEC on Monday as contained in the commission’s time table.