National chairman of Young Progressives Party, YPP, Comrade Emmanuel Bishop Amakiri in this interview with Weekend Trust speaks on why he has remained in position since the party was formed in 2017.

You have been the national chairman of YPP since inception. Is that in line with the party’s constitution?

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Of course, it is in line with the party’s constitution because the party convention has given rights to any member seeking an elective position under the party leadership to vie for a first tenure of four years and is eligible to vie again. It’s not limited to terms.

So, as long as the party members vote for you, fine. We had a convention in 2019 where I was elected unanimously for the first term. Then it was the same thing in 2023. I’m serving my second term. And according to the party’s constitution, I’m not restricted to two terms. Within the provisions of the party, any person is eligible to contest for election, provided he qualifies.

How often does the party hold NEC, NWC and other meetings?

Well, meeting is constitutional. We hold such meetings regularly.

Where the party wants to change logo or name or there’s an election like the one in Anambra. We have what we call a midterm congress to elect some party executives into the party.

By holding on to the national chairmanship, do you think your leadership is fair to all members?

As human beings, you cannot be 100 per cent and you cannot satisfy everyone.

And I don’t make decisions on my own. Every decision you see in YPP is taken by a unanimous decision, a resolution of NEC or NWC.

Would you step down in future and on what condition would that happen?

Stepping down at every given time in life is natural and necessary. It depends on the condition or the scenario in which it happens. Who can be a champion forever? At some point, you will leave either by nature or by circumstance. But when we talk about institutional building, you are not talking about those who founded this thing, and they have a target of what we call short, mid, and long-term plans. This is a party that is barely 10 years or eight years old now, right?

What is the blueprint these founding fathers want to achieve? How do you leave a place for somebody who is still a novice or new, and may derail from the founding fathers’ vision of where they want to take this party to?

It is like when a mother gives birth to a child, she wants to nurture that child until when the child grows and becomes independent. even at then, she will still guide him. That is the vision. I’m not saying I’m going to be there forever, no, but God willing, when the time comes and the ovation is high, I will give birth. My wish and focus for this party is to see how we can position this party among one of the leading parties in the committee of nations.

For now, I wish to see that the party expands its scope in winning credible elections and bringing up credible candidates that will win elections, and then those candidates will stand.