The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) on Monday said it has no plan to forge an alliance with other parties ahead of the February 3 bye-elections holding in 35 state and four federal constituencies.
Rather, the party said it was ready to participate, as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
INEC, had last December, approved a timetable for conducting bye-elections resulting from the resignation or demise of members of the National and State Houses of Assembly.
The commission, in a statement by the national commissioner and chairman, information voter education committee, Sam Olumekun, said the vacancies were declared by the presiding officers of the assemblies.
According to him, the vacancies occurred in two senatorial districts, four federal constituencies and three state constituencies in nine states.
Speaking with Nigerian Tribune on the NNPP’s preparations for the February 3 bye-elections, the national secretary, Dipo Olayoku, said the party had concluded its primaries as those who emerged as candidates have had their names uploaded on INEC server as stipulated by the electoral body.
He added that the party had commenced the upload of the party’s agents for the elections.
“For the bye elections coming up on February 3, 2024, we are done with our primaries and upload of our candidates. What we are doing now is the upload of our polling agents for the bye election and rerun fixed for February 3, 2024,” he said.
On preparations for the off-season governorship elections later in the year especially in Edo State, Olayoku said the sale of expression of interest forms will commence in first week of February to be followed immediately by primary.
“For the off-season election for Edo State, our primary is slated for the first week in February. Still on Edo State, sale of forms is in the first week of February and primaries immediately,” he said.
When asked if the party is preparing to go into alliance with any party as far as the by- elections are concerned, the national secretary ruled out the possibility. .
