2023: ‘Vote for Credibility, not Political Parties’ – NGO Urges Ebonyians
As part of the drive to ensure good governance in Ebonyi State, and Nigeria at large a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) known as ‘Advocates for good Citizenship and Peace’ has launched a mass campaign for candidate based voting tagged ‘Na Person; No be Party’.
This was made known to the press on Tuesday, May, 2022 by the National Director, Barr.Kelechi Mbam in a press conference held in Abakaliki.
Barr. Kelechi disclosed that the campaign is aimed at sensitizing electorates in the State and alert various political parties on the need to consider credibility, acceptability and marketability as a requisite to elect candidates for various elective positions.
He argued that the campaign became necessary following the abandonment of political parties in presenting, implementing and promoting their party manifestoes. While maintaining that the ideal practices of candidates deriving their administrative policy from the party manifestoes have been long abandoned, leaving candidates presenting their manifestoes.
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Stating “the logic therefore is, since parties no longer pursue party manifesto, it is no longer necessary for voters to consider political party in their choice of vote. Rather, they should look at the persons one after the other and vote them according to their individual pedigree and manifesto irrespective of political party leaning”.
Barr.Kelechi condemned the dangerous trend of placing political parties above individual pedigree , stating that if left unchecked is capable of continuous enthroment of bad leaders in the State and beyond.
Adding “A situation where a credible candidate fail election because he contested under a perceived smaller party has continued to deal with us negatively than ever. On the other hand , where a credible candidate emerges from a majority political party there is no barrier for such a candidate to enjoy maximum support of his or her people” he stated.
Barr.Kelechi further revealed that among line up of programmes mapped out to achieve the campaign’s objective include outreach to political aspirants to state their reasons for vying for such elective positions, other events for the campaign include one to one million reach out , signing a pact, press conference, online public voting and publication of result, research verdict, among others.
Stating “currently, we have no doubt , the level of impact our campaign will make in shaping the 2023 general election in Ebonyi and Nigeria in general. This is because we speak the minds of the people and we have all the instrumentalities of mass mobilization”
” We call on all our teeming members to erase sleep from their eyes and girdle the belt of vigil to ensure peace, unity and progress of our dear Ebonyi State and Nigeria.” He stated.
