Constitution Amendment: IPAC To Transmit Memorandum On Broad Electoral Issues.

By John Nwokocha

Abuja

The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has disclosed it is finalizing work to transmit its own memorandum to address broad areas relating to electoral system, electoral process, party management, voter education and general political development of the country while urging Nigerians to use  opportunity provided by ongoing constitutional review and amendment exercise  to make contribution on  electoral reform that will aid in deepening further use of technology, enhance independence of INEC, strengthen political parties and improve  voting process.

National chairman of IPAC, Dr Leonard Nzenwa made the disclosure in his Independence Day commemoration press briefing on what he tagged Diamond Jubilee: State Of The Nation

Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC Perspective.

Speaking further on electoral reforms the IPAC chairman said the Council supports all democratic enhancing contributions made by of stakeholders in the past and recently towards reforming the nation’s electoral system and processes.

He pointed out that the use of the Zip with Z-File, a tablet with a camera, which at the end of voting and sorting out of ballots would take picture and transmit same to a dedicated portal for everyone to view the polling unit result live and direct, deployed by INEC in the September 19, Edo governorship poll helped a great deal in promoting transparency and credibility in the election.

The Council therefore urged INEC to further deepen use of technology to improve on the card reader and its authentication and work with stakeholder to ensure that e-voting is made a reality in Nigeria.

The Council commended INEC on the success of the Edo gubernatorial election stressing that “INEC, no doubt, reinvented itself and stood with the people by ensuring that the electorate votes counted. We commend the Commission and salute the people of Edo for standing and protecting their votes and ensuring that no politician stole ballot boxes under any guise or manipulated the system”.

“Specifically, we are overjoyed that the just concluded Edo Gubernatorial Polls was hugely successful, and its outcome has rekindled our hope and restored confidence that elections can truly be free, fair and credible in Nigeria, and that representative democracy is possible in the country”, the Council stated.

Following the success of the Edo poll, IPAC urges Ondo state eligible voters to troop out enmasse to vote on fast approaching Ondo state governorship election fixed for October 10, 2020.

On security, it noted that it was worrisome describing the security of the country as “a country at full fledged war”.  The Council noted that “Even safety of citizens in some countries at war are guaranteed more than what obtains in the country”, that it condemns “the kids-blow-approach adopted to address insecurity in the country”.

Expressing dismay over the security situation in the country, occasioning the recent dismal rating which puts Nigeria at 124 out of 128 countries listed unsafe countries to live in, the Council demanded that “Mr. President should take this hard decision NOW and save Nigeria”.

It continued: “We call on Mr. President to urgently eschew this hand-waving approach to deal with insecurity in the country, and decisively decapitate these troublers of our Lives. If heads MUST roll for the nation to have peace”.