…Cautions Undemocratic Forces Not To Throw Country Into Chaos.
By John Nwokocha
Managing Editor Abuja
Amid the clamour by some politicians for the postponement of the forthcoming Edo and Ondo states governorship elections scheduled for September 19 and October 10 respectively, the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), has insisted that the elections be conducted as scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Addressing journalists on Tuesday in Abuja at the Council’s head office, national chairman of IPAC, Dr Leonard Nzenwa charged INEC to proceed with the elections as planned, insisting that the elections” MUST HOLD as scheduled pursuant to the provisions of section 178(1) and (2) of the constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and section 25(7) and (8), section 99 (1), section 31 (1), (3), section 32 (1), 34, 35, 46″.
The Council’s position is coming on the heel of political development caused by the Court of Appeal judgement which reversed the deregistration of about 22 political parties that were deregistered by INEC on ground of non performance early this year.
IPAC’s national chairman, Nzenwa who was at the briefing with executive members of the Council said “As we are aware all Elections in the country as organized by INEC has a clear Schedule with Timeline that has been sanctioned and legitimized by the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010(As amended) and calling for the postponement of the polls is winding the clock backward in addition to waste of taxpayers’ money and other negative impact on the polity”.
He said Council disagreeswith the “call by our colleagues to stampede the commission to hurriedly re-list the deregistered political parties. For an election that has gone 95 percent cycle, we see this call for postponement of Edo and Ondo State Governorship as act by unpatriotic Nigerians who resolved to throw into a Political Armageddon”.
Hinting that undemocratic and unpatriotic Nigerians are bent on underminig the efforts of INEC to conduct the elections, the Council urges INEC not to be distracted by actions and inaction of some politicians who are inflaming the polity with incendiary statements and clear intent to cause crisis in these states.
“The Council is aware of plots to use this same disgruntled individuals and groups in the country to promote the stoppage of Edo and Ondo polls.
“We restate that for the growth and development of our democracy, all elections MUST HOLD as millions of tax payers funds have been spent in preparing for them.
“The electoral process should not be derailed by ill-informed Nigerians and retrogressive forces.
“The leadership of IPAC as presently constituted will do everything within its power to stop activities of these anti-democratic forces who want to use legal ambush to stop the wishes and mandates of Edo and Ondo States people.
Commending what they call “pro-active response of INEC” to approach the Supreme Court to determine the resolution of this conflicting Court of Appeal Judgment(s) on deregistered political parties,
Nzenwa reiterates
“The Council is aware of the Court of Appeal Judgment of July 29, 2020, which affirmed power of INEC to deregister political parties in an appeal filed by the National Unity Party (NUP) which is now pending at the Supreme Court. On 10th August 2020, the Court of Appeal in an appeal filed by Advanced Congress of Democrats, ACD and 22 others nullified their deregistration by INEC. Nigerians await the final resolution of the issues raised in the two conflicting judgments. As a stakeholder, IPAC will abide by the decision of the Apex Court.
_John Nwokocha can be reached @ jonnwoko@yahoo.com_
Also, IPAC reiterates that it has only one leadership as currently constituted in Nigeria and is working with all stakeholders in the Electoral System including the core stakeholder, INEC and this leadership will always support and work with all stakeholders to ensure that the Edo and Ondo elections are held as scheduled.
On concerns over the apparent non compliance with the Covid 19 protocols and regulations of NCDC by the political parties in the Edo state governorship campaign rallies, Nzenwa while answering questions said the Council as the umbrella body of political parties will emphasis on compliance with the Covid 19 policies and protocols.
