**Submit dates for Anambra primaries, Says INEC
By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Apparently dissatisfied with the conflicting judgements that come out of the Nigerian law courts, the National Chairman of the Interparty Advisory Council (IPAC), the umbrella body of all the registered political parties in Nigeria, Alhaji Yusuf Mamman Dantalle has accused the nation’s judiciary of interfering in the internal affairs of political parties.
Dantalle made this allegation at the 1st Regular Consultative Meeting between the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) and the political parties at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.
This is even as Dantalle has also called on INEC to commence preparations for the 2027 general elections without delay. He emphasised the need for early planning to ensure the Commission meets all necessary requirements and fulfills the expectations of Nigerians.
A visibly angry IPAC Chairman called the Nigerian judiciary for what he believes as a deliberate attempt to undermine the political parties and therefore
urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN)
to take decisive action against corrupt judges to restore public confidence in the judicial system.
The IPAC Chairman also urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria to take decisive action against corrupt judges to restore public confidence in the judicial system.
He highlighted the importance of upholding justice impartially, maintaining that the judiciary, as the temple of justice, must operate without fear or favor.
Said he: “Sadly, some judicial officers have turned the court to a bazaar. We call on the Chief Justice of Nigeria to wield the big stick on corrupt Justices especially the ones that meddle in the internal affairs of political parties to serve as a deterrent to others”.
He said IPAC is aware of the leadership disputes in some political parties that tend to overheat the polity and appealed to the affected parties to avail themselves of the IPAC Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism to address them instead of dissipating energy in elongated litigations in court.
“IPAC urges members to adhere strictly to their respective constitution in nomination of candidates for elections, discipline of members and leadership change. Compliance to party constitution, and the rule of law will curb crises that impede the development of our emerging democracy.
“The most outrageous of this is the recent attempt by undemocratic forces to hijack the leadership of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) on 17th January 2025, in Abuja, led by Chief Edozie Njoku, the former factional APGA National Chairman who was recently removed from Office on 27th November 2024, by the Supreme Court which restated Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa as the authentic National Chairman of the party.
“In the worst political gymnastics if not mockery, the embattled National Chairman of NRM, Mr. Isaac Udeh who was having a leadership disagreement with his party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) resigned as Chairman and arrogating to himself the position of National Organizing Secretary of the party.
“IPAC strongly condemns this political absurdity that has further dented the nation’s democracy. It is preposterous and uncalled for; a deliberate attempt to bring NRM to ridicule and disrepute.
“Nigerians watched the news of the purported convention on television, except the embattled Mr. Isaac Udeh no member of the party’s National Management Committee or National Executive Committee was in that jamboree called emergency convention conducted to hoodwink unsuspecting members of the public.
“Council urges INEC not to recognise the outcome of the so-called convention staged in flagrant violation of the NRM constitution or any other party in which such a clear violation exists.
Dantalle insists that political parties belong to all Nigerians and every Nigerian is at liberty to join any political party of his choice, he however saying it has to be in line with the party’s constitution.
Said he: “But to join a party with the sole aim of becoming its national chairman contrary to its constitution is unjust and repugnant to good conscience, and should be condemned by all lovers of democratic governance.
“As the umbrella body of all registered political parties in Nigeria, IPAC will always intervene in national issues in the quest for a strong, united, stable, progressive, equitable and just democratic nation”.
Dantalle said: “With remarkable reforms and steady development in the electoral process, so much is expected from the Commission in conducting free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive elections that meet international standards.
“While preparations for the Anambra State gubernatorial election are on, the Commission should also activate its Election Project Plan (EPP), Strategic Programme of Action (SPA), the 2022 – 2026 Strategic Plan and Strategic Plan Implementation Programme (SPIP) for the 2027 general election.
In another development, INEC has reminded leaders of political parties that primaries for the nomination of candidates for the Anambra State Governorship election begins in the next two months i.e. 20th March to 10th April 2025.
INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu stated this in his remarks at the 1st Regular Consultative Meeting between INEC and IPAC, pointing out that it was at the last Regular Meeting late last year that both agreed that parties will forward their schedule of activities for the election to the Commission to enable INEC work together and plan better for the deployment of personnel and resources for the monitoring of your party primaries and campaign activities in order to avoid the last minute rush with the attendant inability to meet deadlines and unnecessarily dissipate our energy and lean resources.
“So far, only a few parties are in compliance. I urge those that have not done so to submit the details by the end of this week”.
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