UPN pays N1m to INEC for registration

POISED to play a leadership role in the country, a political association, the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), said Tuesday that it had paid the N1 million non-refundable fee to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC ) to qualify for registration.

The acting National Secretary of the party, Alhaji Abubakar Sokoto, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Sokoto said that the amount was paid on Monday April 29 vide an Ecobank cheque No: 130905, dated 02-04-2013.

``I confirm to you that we (UPN) paid the N1 million non-refundable registration fee to INEC yesterday (April 29).

``And INEC had acknowledged receipt of same the same day,’’ he explained.

A letter conveying the payment to INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, dated April 29, was made available to NAN in Abuja.

The letter was entitled ``Re: Instruction to Register A Political Party: Request for Information/Modalities’’.

It read in part thus: ``We write to acknowledge receipt of political party (hereinafter referred to as Unity Party of Nigeria) registration form from Mr. Ben Nwaokenya Esq (acting National Legal Adviser) a fortnight ago.

``We have gone through the requirements for the party (hereinafter referred to as Unity Party of Nigeria) registration that come along with the form and we wish to present our One Million Naira (N1,000,000.00) only registration fee for your commission.

``Other requirements will be met soonest.’’

Dr Fredrick Fasehun, the acting national chairman of the group, also told NAN on phone that they stood on the socio-political and economic legacies of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

``Equality of good fortune must be to each reward; liberty and brotherhood are the goals for which we will strive; plus plenty and the good things of life.

``All the political parties since 1999 have failed us. It is for this reason that we have resolved to create a platform for the platformless, create a voice for the generality of Nigerians.

``A platform for democracy where every member shall have right of expression, unlike the monopolisation of power by some powerful cabals,’’ Fasehun said.

The chairman said that the new UPN shared the same ideals with the old UPN of the First and Second republics with a people-oriented four cardinal programmes.

Fasehun listed free and qualitative education at all levels; free health services with modern equipment, integrated rural and community development, as well as full gainful employment as the pivots of the party.

According to him, the upcoming party would address security, electricity, water, agriculture and other infrastructure challenges facing the country, if registered and voted into power.