10 Kwara State Guber Candidates, Over 20 Party Chairmen Pledge Loyalty To KLPP
by Samuel Oyejola
No fewer than 10 governorship candidates in Kwara state for the 2019 general elections as well as party chairmen have pledged their loyalty and support for the coalition of Kwara Likeminds Political Parties (KLPP).
They made this known in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital after an interactive session with Party Chairmen and governorship candidates in the coalition.
They admitted that the coalition, comprising about thirty political parties in Kwara state working to produce a consensus governorship candidate for 2019 general elections, is healthy for the growth of democratic rule in Nigeria, especially in Kwara state.
Speaking on behalf of the group, the State Chairman of United Democratic Party (UDP); Oladele Oluseun Sunday said KLPP hopes to accord majority of kwarans the opportunity to determine who becomes their governor come 2019.
Oladele added that one of the coalition’s objectives is to give smaller political parties voice in the democratic process and end the syndrome of winner takes all in the state’s political landscape.
“Coalition is what is trending in Nigeria’s politics now. If you have been following the trend, you will see that CUPP adopted consensus presidential candidate, over 30 political parties have endorsed Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai for second term.
“Also on Monday, a coalition of 13 political parties in Edo state drummed support for a senatorial candidate. It’s just about making yourself a decisive factor and I have no doubt that our coalition, Kwara Likeminds Political Parties would make impact in the next polls.” he said.
Earlier, the KLPP Convener, Prophet Maxwell Emmanuel Kolawole disclosed that all the participating political parties will sign a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU in January 2019 and announce their consensus candidate before January 31st, 2019.
While noting that efforts is already underway with some political parties and their candidates, he said emerges must meet up with the coalition’s criteria.
Prophet Maxwell Emmanuel who stressed the relevance of the KLPP, noted that they’ve been able to win over aggrieved members who left the major parties to their sides.
The Chairman of the Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, also revealed that the coalition is currently discussing with more governorship candidates and about ten political parties to embrace the coalition.
