2nd May, 2022
The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has condemned the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s proposal for a drug integrity test on aspirants vying for various offices in the 2023 general elections.
The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Agbo Major, on Sunday in Abuja, described the proposal as a joke.
The party further described it as ill-conceived, a joke taken too far, and a mockery of the country’s frail democracy.
NNPP said: “It is inconsistent with electoral laws and suggests that politicians are drug addicts who cannot be trusted to hold elective offices. NNPP strongly condemns it and will not tolerate it.
“Any proposal outside the clear provisions of the 1999 Constitution, Electoral Act, INEC guidelines and our party constitution is void and of no effect whatsoever.”
NNPP also called on the Federal Government to quickly resolve lingering issues with the Academic Staff Union of Universities and honor agreements with the union.
This, according to the party, will end the elongated strike that has undermined the nation’s educational advancement and led students to crimes, thus worsening insecurity in the country.
Major, who said that the upcoming 2023 general elections would be a redefining moment for Nigeria, said that the NNPP called for issues-based campaigns.
He urged politicians to eschew politics of bitterness and brigandage that had stalked the nation’s frail democracy.
Major urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to provide a level-playing field to all political parties and their candidates in all elections, saying that was the only way to safeguard the nation’s hard-earned democracy.