APDA will be the first political party in Nigeria to introduce electronic voting – Bar. Ohaegbu, Anambra state interim chairman

On June 6th 2017, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC announced new political parties in the country, which included Advanced People's Democratic Alliance, APDA.

Speaking during a media briefing at his hometown Ukpor, Nnewi South L,G.A, the APDA interim Chairman in Anambra state, Bar. Obunike Ohaegbu stated that the new political party would be the first to introduce electronic voting in the country during primary election.

"In APDA, the primaries will be conducted through electronic voting. In fact, it's mandatory. We're going to teach the national electoral body, INEC how to do it. With that process, nobody is going to manipulate the system and this will guarantee transparency and ensure public trust and confidence. What that means is that if I'm voting right here in Ukpor, it would be reflecting at the national headquarters Abuja simultaneously, likewise someone who's voting in Bayelsa, Kano, Ogun state etc. APDA is here for total sanitization of the system," he said.

Hon Obunike Ohaegbu, APDA interim state chairman flanked by Bar. Emeka Onuzulike, Secretary; Mrs. Akaniru Ngozika, women mobilizer and Mr. Okey Nwizugbe, organizing secretary during a media interaction in Anambra.

Photo Credit: cfrmagazine.com

Bar. Ohaegbu also said the party's leadership has unanimously reserved 25% of the positions for the youth. He however advised the youths to shun cyber war and join APDA.

"You see when you go to social media today, most especially Facebook, you'll see how our youths are abusing themselves because of politicians. The irony of the whole drama is that whenever these politicians meet, they'll drink and eat together like family, and these guys probably don't know about it. I'm not sure they even talk to one another in real life and that is very bad. It's high time the youths in Anambra state left their Android phones and joined APDA which has already created a space for them in the system. The party is already structured to consider 25% for youths, 30% for women, 5% for physically challenged and the remaining 40% for conventional politicians.

"Hopefully, with all these and other numerous policies we've already lined up, APDA would be the number one party in the country before 2019 elections," he said

When asked about the relationship between Peter Obi and Makarfi with the party, Bar. Ohagbu stated that as at this very moment, the former governor of the state, Mr. Peter Obi is not a member of APDA, likewise Ahmed Markarfi, the factional chairman of the People's Democratic Party, PDP.

On how the party would manage the subsequent flag bearers, Bar. Ohaegbu admitted that a flag bearer of any political party is always a problem but that wouldn't be the case of APDA because of the policies they've already lined up, using direct primaries which will allow every registered member of the party to vote, unlike the status quo.

"It is only in APDA that we have Direct Primaries as the only way of electing Party Candidates for elections in Nigeria.

"According to Section 126 of the APDA Constitution, conduct of primaries for elections for all elective positions in the party shall be by direct primaries, through elections where all registered members of the party who are in good financial standings with the regards to the payment of their dues and levies shall be eligible to vote and may freely vote for any aspirant of their choice at the ward level using the electronic open secret ballot system.

"So at the end of the exercise, nobody would cry foul because everything would definitely be very clear," he stated

On restructuring, he said APDA will restructure Nigeria because they believe that if the system is properly structured, the current agitations we're witnessing today won't be there at all.