The Chairman, Inter Party Advisory Council IPAC in Nigeria, Alhaji Yusuf Mamman Dantelle has criticised the high cost of living in the country and political tension which has dampened citizens confidence in the electoral process , hence low turnout at any elections.

Dantelle who made this assertion while addressing the fourth INEC and IPAC quarterly consultative meeting held on Thursday at Abuja.

He averred that citizens participation in elections is critical to sustainable democracy, as power resides in the people, but 25 years later , the reverse is the case.

While urging government at all levels to imbibe people oriented programs, aimed at ameliorating the naked hardships Nigerians are subjected to, inline with the constitutional provisions.

He asked INEC to improve on the forthcoming Ondo governorship election, stating that IPAC will lead from the front.

He also called for collaboration from all stakeholders in the electoral process , so as ensured indepth sensitization, mobilisation to ensure free , fair and credible elections expected of international standards and best practices.

Dantelle charged the media, election observers both local, foreign and security agencies to play their pivotal roles , while challenging INEC on the need to ensure the workability of BVAS and IREV Machines.

IPAC chairman warned the judiciary not to set the country backwards, stating that orders and counter orders from judges has been a cog in the wheel of progress of Nigeria’s democracy.

While looking forward for a peaceful and transparent election in Ondo come November 16th, he said the need for a well conducted governorship election in Ondo will avoid the pitfalls of Edo.

A SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE INTER PARTY ADVISORY COUNCIL (IPAC) NATIONAL CHAIRMAN, YUSUF MAMMAN DANTALLE AT THE INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC) FOURTH QUARTERLY CONSULTATIVE MEETING WITH LEADERS OF POLITICAL PARTIES AT THE COMMISSION’S HEADQUARTERS ABUJA ON THURSDAY 17TH OCTOBER 2024

Protocol .

“On behalf of leaders of political parties, l am pleased to address you in this fourth quarterly consultative meeting with the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at this critical period in the nation’s democratic process. ”

“After 25 years of unbroken democracy, the state of the nation is sour. Nigerians are disillusioned. The rising cost of living and political tension have dampened citizens’ morale in the electoral process resulting in low voter turnout in elections. ”

“Citizens’ participation in elections is critical for sustainable democracy as power resides in the people. The need to create an environment conducive for successful elections, political stability, economic growth and public safety cannot be overemphasized.”

“IPAC urges governments at all levels to improve the people’s wellbeing in tandem with Section 14(2)b of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, which provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. Urgent steps should be taken to ameliorate the hardship millions of Nigerians are facing today. This will spur their political participation that will give more credence to the electoral process.”

“Nigerians expect INEC to improve on the Saturday 16th November 2024, Ondo State gubernatorial poll. ”

“Council urges stakeholders in the electoral process to join in voter education, sensitization and mobilisation to ensure a free, fair, credible, transparent, inclusive, and peaceful election that will meet international standards. ”

“IPAC will lead from the front in voter mobilisation as a major stakeholder, and urges political parties and their candidates to imbibe issue-based campaigns and eschew politics of bitterness.”

“The commission is required to put its act together, provide adequate electoral materials, test run its BVAS and IReV portal to avoid undue technical hitches and glitches that will cast doubt on the integrity of the election. The issue of late arrival of election materials to some polling units must be addressed to reinforce confidence in the polls. Equally important is effective communication by the commission’s officials particularly during the collation of results to avoid suspicion of manipulation of results as it happened in the Edo State governorship election where some politicians stormed the collation centre to know why collation of results was suspended. Nigerians, indeed the entire world expect transparency in the conduct of elections.”

“Security agents, election observers and the media have critical roles to play in ensuring the success of the poll. They are urged to discharge their duties with utmost responsibility and patriotism. Vote trading has been the bane of most elections in Nigeria. Security agents should apprehend and prosecute vote buyers and sellers and their sponsors to face the full weight of the law. We must sanitise the electoral process to stimulate increased restoration of trust that will encourage citizens participation in elections.”

“IPAC reiterates its demand for the scrapping of the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) as the sham called elections they conduct are deliberate assault on the nation’s democracy. Council will not fold its hand and allow this glaring perversion of the democratic process to continue. It is not just a coronation of the candidates of a ruling party in the state, it is daylight robbery of people’s votes and mandates for chairmanship and councillorship positions. In place of SIECs, Council proposes that INEC should conduct all Local Government elections in Nigeria as it does for federal and state elections. There is no need to create another body to conduct Local Government polls. The National Assembly should not dissipate energy and resources in establishing any Local Government electoral commission, instead it should strengthen INEC to conduct all elections in
the country. The commission’s elections may not be perfect; they are far better and credible than the charades showcased by SIECs acting as rubber stamps of the governors who appointed them.”

“IPAC is aware of crises in some political parties and inflammatory statements by politicians and public office holders that tend to overheat the polity. ”

“We re-emphasise the call on parties to always adhere strictly to their respective constitution and internal democracy.
Council appeals to political leaders to also explore IPAC’s Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism (ADR) to address the protracted leadership disagreements in some political parties as enshrined in its Code of Conduct. As political Leaders, we must cultivate and promote the culture of resolving our own internal disputes as evidence of leadership capability; rather than over reliance on the Judiciary. ”

“It is time we stop using the Judiciary to make mockery of our hard earned democracy.”

“The issuance of orders and counter orders, judgements and conflicting judgements by courts of coordinate jurisdiction are appalling, as if justice is for sale. Enough of these provocative Judicial somersaults that have made mockery of our emerging democracy. This is also a wake up call for urgent Judicial reform that will sanction and flush out corrupt Judicial officers and restore the court as the Temple of Justice and the last hope of all aggrieved people.”

“As Nigerians look forward to a successful Ondo State governorship election on November 16, 2024, let us renew our faith in the democratic process and work assiduously in building a better and greater Nigeria future generations will be proud of. ”

*I thank you for your audience.”