IPAC calls for INEC’s expanded role in local elections

The Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, has called for constitutional amendments to empower the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct all Local Government elections in Nigeria.

This demand was made by IPAC’s National Chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, at the INEC’s third quarterly consultative meeting with leaders of political parties in Abuja on Monday.

Dantalle emphasized the need to deepen democracy at the grassroots level, stating that the current State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) have failed to conduct credible elections.

He described the SIECs as “a waste of taxpayers’ money” and called for their immediate scrapping.

IPAC commended INEC’s capacity to conduct free and fair elections, citing the recent FCT Area Councils polls as an example. The council urged the National Assembly to amend the relevant electoral laws to empower INEC to conduct all Local Government elections.

Dantalle also emphasized the importance of credible elections, stating that flawed polls have led to economic stagnation, political upheavals, and socio-religious disharmony.

He expressed IPAC’s commitment to sanitizing the democratic process and ensuring peaceful elections.

The council also advocated for the establishment of the Electoral Offences Commission to prosecute electoral offenders and serve as a deterrent to others. With INEC’s support, IPAC pledged to lead efforts to restore electoral trust and integrity, deepen democracy, and make Nigeria great again.

Earlier, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said: “It is my pleasure to welcome you to the third regular quarterly consultative meeting for this year… Our preparations are going on in earnest. I am glad to report that we have recovered from the torrential rainfall that resulted in the severe flooding of our State Headquarters in Benin City two months ago.”

On the Edo State Governorship election, Yakubu stated: “We have delivered additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines to Edo State for the training of election duty personnel as well as contingency for Election Day support… The final register for the 2024 Governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States are being finalized.”

Yakubu reminded political parties to submit their lists of agents by uploading the required information to the dedicated portal, saying: “The deadline is tomorrow, Tuesday, July 30, when the portal automatically shuts down at midnight. I urge you to ensure that you meet the deadline so that the Commission can produce the accreditation tags and deliver them to you for distribution to your agents in good time.”

He also expressed concern over the recent event in Edo State, saying: “The Commission finds the recent event in Edo State resulting in the death of a security personnel worrisome… We are as concerned about the safety of your candidates, agents, and supporters as we are about the security of our own officials, observers, journalists, service providers, and, above all, the voters.”