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'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER - The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enhance its communication strategies during elections, to prevent issues such as those witnessed during the Edo State gubernatorial election.
This plea was made by IPAC National Chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, during INEC’s fourth quarterly consultative meeting with political parties held at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on October 17, 2024.
Addressing political leaders and INEC officials, Dantalle emphasized the need for transparent and effective communication during the electoral process, particularly during the collation of results. He referenced the Edo governorship election, where delays in the collation process led to confusion and suspicion among politicians, some of whom stormed the collation center seeking clarification on the suspension of results.
"Nigerians, and indeed the entire world, expect transparency in the conduct of elections. INEC must ensure that communication from its officials is clear, timely, and transparent to avoid suspicions of result manipulation," Dantalle stated.
Dantalle’s remarks come ahead of the **Ondo State gubernatorial election scheduled for November 16, 2024**, with heightened expectations for INEC to deliver a seamless, credible election. He urged INEC to take proactive measures to avoid technical challenges, citing the need for proper testing of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal to prevent technical glitches that could undermine the credibility of the election.
Furthermore, Dantalle stressed the importance of INEC addressing persistent issues, such as the late arrival of electoral materials to polling units, which could disrupt the voting process and diminish public confidence in the polls.
In addition to improved communication, the IPAC chairman called on all stakeholders, including security agencies, election observers, and the media, to play their roles responsibly and ensure the success of the Ondo election. He also highlighted the need for political parties to engage in issue-based campaigns and avoid politics of bitterness.
Dantalle criticized the ongoing issue of vote buying, urging security agents to take a firm stance against the practice, including prosecuting both buyers and sellers, to uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system.
In his speech, Dantalle also reiterated IPAC's longstanding demand for the scrapping of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), describing their operations as detrimental to Nigeria’s democracy. He argued that SIEC-conducted elections often result in biased outcomes, favoring ruling party candidates in states, and called for INEC to take over the conduct of all local government elections.
Dantalle further addressed the ongoing crises within some political parties, appealing for adherence to internal democracy and urging political leaders to utilize IPAC’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism to resolve leadership disputes, rather than relying on the judiciary.
In closing, Dantalle called for urgent judicial reforms to curb the trend of conflicting court orders and judicial rulings that have, in his view, tarnished Nigeria’s democratic process. He urged political leaders to commit to fostering a peaceful and credible election in Ondo State, as part of broader efforts to strengthen the nation’s democracy.
With the Ondo election approaching, IPAC's message underscores the crucial role INEC must play in ensuring a transparent and well-managed electoral process, while also challenging political actors and institutions to contribute positively to Nigeria’s democratic growth.
Some of the political parties in attendance include: IPAC and APM Chairman, Yusuf Dantali, APC National Chairman, Dr Umar Abdullahi Ganduje; Action Alliance, Kenneth Udenze; ADP, Sani Yagbagi, ZLP, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu Labour Party, Accord, AAC, ADC, APGA, Boot Party, PRP, and YPP.
