2019: ANN dissociates self from another presidential primary following the emergence of Fela Durotoye

The National Chairman of Alliance for New Nigeria, Emmanuel Dania has dissociated himself and the party from a publication in the Punch on October 1st 2018 signed by the National Secretary of the party, Alhaji Saheed Umar, where another Presidential Primary was announced for Wednesday, October 3rd, 2018 and the appointment of Dr. Jay Osi Samuels as the Acting Chairman of the party. 

Dania in the same statement mentioned that the Board of Trustees of the party had met and issued a statement affirming his position as the National Chairman of the party and the affirmation of the emergence of the party’s presidential candidate, Fela Durotoye, during the special convention and Presidential Primary that held on Saturday, September 29, 2018 in Abuja which was duly witnessed and reported by representative of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In his statement, the Chairman reiterated that the party is poised to provide a level playing field for every Nigerian irrespective of their class, religion and region to aspire to elective positions in the country on its platform and would always stand by the core tenets of its principles of Transparency, Integrity and Excellence. 

Dania emphasized that one of the Presidential Aspirants, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, had requested that the primary be moved to Wednesday, October 3rd, 2018 on the grounds that he needed more time to allow some of the states that haven’t done their congresses do so. He however does not see a reason why the date should be moved and in order to ensure that he maintains fairness and equity, he scheduled a meeting with both aspirants for them to discuss this request from Mr. Olawepo-Hasim and agree but Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim who called for the date to be changed was not present at the meeting which was attended by the second aspirant Mr. Fela Durotoye.

Dania reiterated that though he wanted to ensure that he pleased all the aspirants, he was also very conscious of not infringing the constitution of the party and the electoral act and also ensure that the party adhered strictly to the INEC guidelines and timetable which expects that all parties participating in the 2019 general elections must submit the names of their candidates on or before Monday, October 7, 2018.

He therefore called on the erring members of the party to desist from acts that can be tantamount to anti-party activities and to avoid being sanctioned by the party knowing that all the actions of the National Working Committee leading to the conduct of the Presidential Primary and Special National Convention were duly presented and rectified by the National Executive Committee of the party which is the highest organ of the party.

In his appeal, he said that any aggrieved member can approach the Presidential Appeal Committee and seek redress within the timeline provided and in accordance with the guidelines as approved by the National Executive Committee of the party. He thanked all the members of the Board of Trustees for their support and for staying on in the party of honour.

Signed 
Emmanuel Dania.
National chairman 
ANN.