By: Mercy Peter
the Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council Yusuf Dantalle, Thursday disclosed that IPAC and forensic experts will henceforth be vetting certificates of political party aspirants before the primaries.
Yusuf Dantalle expressed concerns over fake certificate presented by aspirants contesting various elective offices.
Consequently, IPAC and the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on aspirant vetting.
The arrangement which was entered into at Council’s national secretariat Abuja on Wednesday 28th August 2024 was disclosed at the INEC National Headquarters during an emergency meeting between IPAC and the electoral umpire.
Dantalle emphasised that IPAC took this bold step to restore sanity in the electoral process and effectively detect these fake documents that embarrass political parties and bring the country’s democracy to disrepute.
He said: “Concerned by numerous fake certificates presented by aspirants contesting various elective offices, worried by subsequent litigations and nullification of elections as a result of fake certificates thus denying political parties that fielded the candidates their hard earned victory, after due consultations, IPAC and the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN) signed a Memorandum of Understanding at Council’s national secretariat, Abuja on Wednesday 28th August 2024, with a view to verifying and authenticating aspirants’ certificates before they contest primaries of their political parties.
“IPAC took this bold step to restore sanity in the electoral process and effectively detect these fake documents that embarrass political parties and bring our democracy to disrepute. We must do everything possible to renew citizens’ faith in the political process. This is our chance to build an enduring democracy and make Nigeria great again.
Meanwhile, ahead of the Edo election, Dantalle also urged political parties and their candidates to ensure violent free election.
He urged them “to imbibe issue-based campaigns that will unite the people and foster development and sustainable democracy. There is no place for politics of bitterness and violence that has impeded the nation’s hard earned democracy.”
He added, “As leaders of political parties, this is our chance to restore confidence in the electoral process by ensuring the sanctity of the ballot box, and respect the mandate of the people. After 25 years of uninterrupted democracy in Nigeria, we must get it right this time.
“It is time to change the narrative. It is time for patriotism. It is time to strengthen, deepen and advance our democracy.”
