2023 Polls: Accord Party Explains why Obi, Kwankwaso Didn’t Contest Under its Platform

By Praise Chinecherem

The Accord Party has explained reasons why Presidential Candidate of Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi and his New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) counterpart, Rabiu Kwankwaso were not contesting under the party’s platform.

The National Deputy Chairman, Hon. Innocent Igbokwe who gave the explanation in Awka in an inaugural meeting and interactive session with party stakeholders from the five southeast states, said leadership crisis in the party scared the candidates away.

He claimed the NNPP candidate had earlier approached the party for his presidential ambition, but had to withdraw following structural defect ocasioned by what he (Igbokwe) termed “expired leadership” of the party.

He accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under the Mamood Yakubu-led administration of insisting on dealing with the expired leadership, despite the electoral body’s earlier position.

He said, “INEC under Mahmood Yakubu is a disappointment to Nigerians, and nation’s democracy. Mahmood is causing Nigeria’s democracy more harm than good. He’s biased.

“In 2015, INEC wrote to Accord Party, telling her that the leadership tenure had expired since 2014 because the convention held in 2010. For its failure to conduct a Congress as at when due, hence its NEC has expired.

“Suddenly, we discovered that INEC started dealing with Accord party again, which simply implies forcing down an expired drug into the throat of the members. Can you do anything to revive an expired drug?

“For INEC to start recognizing the expired leadership, some waters must have passed under the bridge. It’s only natural and rational that whoever contests election under the expired platform can’t survive unless no one is ready to petition. 

“INEC is purely responsible for the crisis in various political parties. The constitution of various parties are uniform with each leadership tenure expiring after eight years of four consecutive years.

“For someone to be in authority since 2007 to 2023, making it 18years in office is an aberration. Assuming you contested election with someone in Accord and he happens to win you, will you go and sleep? Infact, I’ll follow that opponent to court to testify in his favor. 

“This is the simple reason why we have few candidates contesting election under the party. In Anambra for example, it’s only a woman who didn’t pay for normination fee that’s contesting. In Imo, only one Senate, none in Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia. 

“Every knowledgeable aspirant will refuse to fly with the party’s flag. 

“When you ask why Peter Obi, Kwankwaso and their likes didn’t contest under Accord party, they’re sensible to know that if they fly with the party under the same leadership, by the time they win,they’ll be disqualified because the structure they’re standing on is faulty.”

Earlier, Southeast National Vice Chairman, Engr. Ben Chigbo said the meeting was to inaugurate the leaders and inform them of emergence of new Accord Party which would soon come to limelight.

He attributed the leadership crisis in the party to sheer greed, but said the matter had been resolved following court ruling. 

Chigbo further disclosed plans to commence tour to the five states in the zone to consolidate areas of strength of the party.

He called for unity among party members in the states, stressing that unity is needed to succeed ahead of the forthcoming general poll.

He said, “We are all aware of the leadership crisis in the party and we are happy that the court has resolved it.

“This is a new Accord Party under the leadership of our National Chairman, Rev. Isaac Adeniyi.

“This time around, it is the determination of the party to put its house in order and get insights on how to strategise ahead of the 2023 general elections.

“We need to start grassroots mobilisation and sensitisation in all the Southeast states so that we can fully participate in the general election and be ready to win in subsequent elections.”