By: Mercy Peter
The National Chairman of Inter Party Advisory Council, Yusuf Dantalle has urged the Federal Government to address the suffering in the country to spur political participation that will give more credible electoral process.
Dantalle also called for the reform of the judicial system to address conflicting judgments by courts of coordinate jurisdiction.
IPAC Chairman who spoke at the INEC fourth quarterly consultative meeting with leaders of political parties said expectations are on INEC to improve on the Saturday 16th November 2024, Ondo State gubernatorial poll.
He said: “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. ”
IPAC also charged the commission 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.
He also added: ” 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.”
He stressed: “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.”
He also appealed 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.
He said: “As political Leaders, we must cultivate and promote the culture of resolving our own intermal 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.”
