By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
The umbrella body of political parties in Nigeria, Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has reiterated its demand for the scrapping of the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs).
This is even as it called on the National Assembly (NASS) to empower the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to takeover the conduct of LGA elections going forward.
The call for the scrapping of SIECs was made by IPAC National Chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantelle while speaking at the Regular Conservative Meeting with Political Parties in Abuja on Thursday, just as he vowed that Council will not fold its hand and allow this glaring perversion of the democratic process to continue.
According to him results of recent LGA elections across the country are nothing but a coronation of the candidates of a ruling party in the state, pointing out that such brazen acts are nothing but a daylight robbery of people’s votes and mandates for chairmanship and councillor positions”.
Said he: “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 councillor positions”.
In place of SIECs, IPAC has proposed that INEC conduct all Local Government elections in Nigeria as it does for federal and state elections, arguing that: “There is no need to create another body to conduct Local Government polls,” he added, calling on the National Assembly not to dissipate energy and resources in establishing any Local Government electoral Commission.
IPAC said instead, that the National Assembly 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,” the Council added.
IPAC said it was 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.
“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 stopped using the Judiciary to make a 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 a 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.”
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