By Peter Amine
Jos – As political parties in Plateau prepare for local government elections slated to hold Feb. 17, 2018, the Action Democratic Party (ADP), says it has adopted a non-too-young-to rule policy to give opportunities to the youths.
Chief Nanyak Daman, Chairman of the party in the state, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Tuesday in Jos that the aim was to offer the youths a chance to man offices usually considered a preserve of elders.
He said that the party had given a fee waiver to youths, women and physically challenged aspirants to enable them test their popularity in their localities.
“Other political parties segregate against youths, women and physically challenged persons, but we have decided to give them the chance to contest and win elections so as to contribute their quota to societal growth,” he said.
He said that the party was getting more popular in the state in view of its liberal and democratic posture, and described the ADP as “a viable alternative to the ruling APC and its predecessor, the PDP”.
“Other political parties have continued their culture of impunity and imposition, but we have decided to be fair to all so that everyone will have an equal opportunity,” he said.
He said that while other parties had opted for a delegate system to conduct their primaries, the ADP had adopted option A4 to decide its flag bearers.
Daman said that 11 chairmanship aspirants and 47 councillorship aspirants had been cleared for the polls so far, saying that more aspirants were being cleared ahead of the Nov. 15 closing date.
“We expect no fewer than 100 aspirants in the councillorship race; more aspirants have shown interest in our nomination forms and are being screened,” he said.
He said that the ADP chairmanship nomination form was being sold at N120,000, while councillorship form was N70,000. (NAN).