CONVERGENCE FOR A WORKING PEOPLE'S POLITICAL ALTERNATIVE (COPA).

 

16TH JANUARY, 2022.

- ALL OUT ON  JANUARY 18TH, 2022 NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION FOR ELECTORAL FREEDOM AND DEBT CANCELLATION!

- SOLIDARITY WITH PARLIAMENTARY WORKERS FOR PICKET AND STRIKE ON THE 18TH!

- MOP, TPAP AND OTHER NEW LEFT POLITICAL ASSOCIATIONS STRUGGLING FOR REGISTRATION SHOULD BUILD MASS ACTIONS TO DEFEAT CONSTRICTIONS TO PARTY REGISTRATION!

- INEC SHOULD HANDS OFF DEREGISTERED PARTIES!

- FOR A WIDER NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST DEREGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL EMANCIPATION ON APRIL 8TH, 2022, SUPREME COURT DATE FOR MATTER OF DEREGISTERED PARTIES!

- SPN AND OTHER 21 DEREGISTERED PARTIES AT THE SUPREME COURT SHOULD APPLY FOR ABRIDGMENT OF TIME IN VIEW OF EKITI ELECTIONS.

We call for widest participation in our National Day of Action against ELECTORAL FREEDOM AND DEBT CANCELLATION. To participate, obtain a placard, inscribe slogans calling for Electoral Freedom and Debt Cancellation, take a picture with it and upload online.

We also extend solidarity with the Parliamentary Workers of the National Assembly, who have begun series of pickets since Monday, 10th January, 2022 and are prepared to continue with pickets on 17th and 18th January, 2022, which is the date of resumption of the plenary of the National Assembly. We are also aware of the planned strike action after 18th January, 2022, if the demands of the struggle are not met.

We view the actions of the Parliamentary Workers as a demonstration of working class power. The pickets show that Parliamentary workers have the power to shut down Parliament and they can also take over the Parliament and run it their interests.

For this to be possible, we reiterate our call for a broad-based working people's party with parliamentary candidates, who will take the average wage of a salaried worker. We call for all members of the National Assembly to be placed on a minimum wage. 

Whichever way the struggle of the Parliamentary Workers go, the reality is that the period ahead is pregnant with more working class actions from below. We must channel this energy to the question of working people taking over the reins of power in the final analysis.

It is in this light that we charge the Movement of the People (MOP), The People's Political Alternative Party (TPAP) and other left political associations that have applied for registration to build mass actions to demand that the obnoxious restrictions to party registration be removed.

We also call on INEC to hands off deregistered parties. We call on the Socialist Party of Nigeria and Other 21 deregistered parties at the Supreme Court to apply for abridgment of time to bring forward the April 8th date for the proceedings at the Supreme Court in order to be able to know their fate vis-a-vis the imminent 2022 Ekiti State gubernatorial elections.

We are also of the view that where the April 8th, 2022 date subsists, it should be declared a National Day of Action against deregistration and electoral emancipation. We call for a Conference of Action of Deregistered Parties, Unregistered Parties and Political Associations, Youth Movements, Students' Forces, Striking Trade Unions and Fighting Labour Forces to discuss the possibility of this wider National Day of Action.

AYO ADEMILUYI

Interim Co-Spokesperson.

KUNLE WISEMAN AJAYI

Interim Co-Spokesperson.