One
of the political parties in Nigeria, KOWA Party is prepared to set
competency tests for presidential candidates ahead of the year 2019.
This was disclosed by the party’s National Secretary, Mark Adebayo,
while speaking at the party’s Lagos State congress at Light Chapel
Event Centre, Ilupeju, Lagos, on Saturday, February 3, 2018.
He also revealed that gubernatorial aspirants contesting for
tickets under the party will be subjected to the same assessment so as
to produce the best candidates for important political positions in
2019.
He said, “There will be a written examination for presidential
candidates of KOWA Party, and governorship candidates. At least for
those two categories. We need a candidate who can sell the party
profitably to Nigeria.”
According to Adebayo, the party is eager to choose its presidential
flag bearer on August 18, 2018, the date the Independent National
Electoral Commission. While speaking, he confirmed that KOWA already
has four aspirants, including Professor Remi Sonaiya, vying for its
presidential ticket.
Prof Sonaiya, who was also at the congress, was the party’s flag
bearer in the 2015 presidential election and will be expected to be the
favourite to win the ticket again for 2019.
In 2015, she won 13,076 votes, 0.05% of the total votes cast, as
incumbent, President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives’ Congress
(APC) coasted to victory with 15,424,921 (53.96%) votes.
At the congress of the party’s Lagos division, six new members were
elected to the State Executive Committee (SEC) to oversee its
operations.
With 79 out of 489 registered delegates voting through the party’s
electronic voting platform, Dr Fadahunsi Fajuyitan was elected as the
party’s state chairman after serving as interim since 2016.
Other officers elected include: Dr Bimbo Oyedokun as Deputy
Chairman; Emmanuel Ayomide-Baafog as Secretary; Emenyi Abang as
Organising Secretary; Abhulimen Marvins as Public Relations Officer; and
Chimezie Nwosu as Youth Caucus Leader.
The six new officers fill only half of 12 available positions on
the SEC as there were no contestants for positions such as women leader
and treasurer.
National Secretary, Adebayo, pointed out the absence of any female
contestants which was in violation of the party’s constitution which
demands that such a committee is made up of, at least, 35% of the female
gender.