Labour Party, ADP Open Talks On ‘Voters Ballot Alliance’ Ahead of FCT, Osun Polls

Following an inaugural consultation between the Labour Party, represented by its acting National Publicity Secretary, Prince Tony Akeni, and the Action Democratic Party, represented by its National Youth Leader, Chinazam Ike, the two parties have begun talks aimed at building a broad political alliance to adopt consensus candidates for future elections, starting with the Federal Capital Territory Area Council polls and the Osun State governorship election.

According to a report by The Punch, Akeni described the proposed arrangement as a departure from conventional party mergers.

“The concept of ‘Voters Ballot Alliance’,” he said, “is the first of its kind in our country’s practice of democracy. From Independence till date, there is no record like it.”

He explained that unlike mergers, which require amendments to party constitutions and registration documents, the ballot alliance model is voluntary.

“While conventional political party mergers entail mandatory amendment of party name, constitution and other registration instruments with the electoral commission, the concept of ‘voters ballot alliance’ is a voluntary agreement among multi-party grassroots faithfuls reached by participating political parties. It is an agreement to adopt the most viable, electorate-accepted candidate among the candidates of various political parties contesting for a particular office in a given election. This is done without the participating parties abandoning their original party platforms or identities,” he added.

“The rationale of the concept is that instead of various political parties splitting or fragmenting their votes and losing to an oppressive or unfavourable political party, the various parties in a specific constituency come together and reach a pre-election and post-victory terms of office or power sharing,” he said.

He added that under the arrangement, parties would jointly campaign, protect votes and ensure that results reflected the will of the electorate.

Speaking on behalf of the ADP, Chinazam said youths would play a central role in driving the alliance.

“The youths are the strength and vanguard of elections. If Nigeria’s youths, who form the highest blocs of voting populations, key into the outstanding benefits of the Ballot Alliance concept, good governance, which has eluded our country for so long, will be achieved in record time,” he said.

He disclosed that the parties planned to test the model in multiple elections.