Makarfi Faction approaches INEC to register new political party

Makarfi Faction approaches INEC to register new political party

- Senator Ahmed Makarfi faction has reportedly met with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register an alternative political party.

- INEC is however, reportedly yet to approve the party and contact the initiators for registration fee.

Following the ongoing battle for the leadership of PDP, Senator Ahmed Markafi has reportedly approached Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register a new alternative political party called Advanced Peoples Democratic Party (APDP).

The Makarfi faction of PDP approached INEC with an application shortly after the judgment of the Port Harcourt High Court ruled in favour of Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff as the national party chairman.

Makarfi approaches INEC to register new political party
Makarfi approaches INEC to register new political party

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There are reports though that INEC is not keen on registering the party to avoid more political crisis in the already troubled PDP.

Daily Trust reports that an unnamed source in PDP reportedly confided that INEC initially resisted the move to register the new party by arguing that it would be wrong for the commission to register a party with similar name with the PDP but the commission eventually relented and accepted the application for the new party last week to commence the process of registration.

The source said: “We are making alternative efforts to register a new political party ahead of the 2019 elections. Initially, INEC was trying to dismiss it on the ground that the new name had PDP in it but we pointed out to them that our party is different in that it has ‘Advanced’ added to the PDP, which is not the same as PDP.

“We have started the process; at least the application is with them. That is the first phase, and they have not contacted us for the second phase, which is the payment of the requisite N1 million and fill their form.”

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However, when contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of INEC, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, said that he was not aware of the application to register the new party.

Meanwhile, Senator Makarfi, on Friday, February 24 said the PDP would have won the 2015 presidential election if it had presented a northern candidate.

Makarfi also said PDP lost because the party refused to listen to people's need, a situation he said the opposition capitalised on.

Source: Legit.ng

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