The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has frowned at reported moves by some members of the deregisteted political parties, who deregisteration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was upturned by the Appeal Court on Monday to force INEC to alter the timetable for the Edo and Ondo governorship elections to accommodate their candidates to participate
IPAC in a press briefing Tuesday in Abuja, expressed it’s disagreement with the position of their colleagues, insisting that the two elections must go ahead as planned by the commission
Chairman of the umbrella of registered political parties, Leonard Nzenwa described the clamour for the September 19 and October 10, 2020 Edo and Ondo States Governorship Elections respectively to be postponed as undemocratic .
Nzenwa, who doubles as the National Chairman of Africa Action Congress (AAC) insisted that the elections must hold as scheduled, citing 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 etc among others.
“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.
“The Council dissociates itself with 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.
“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.
He noted that 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.
“We commend 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.
“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.
“IPAC urges all democrats in Nigeria to prevail on their spheres of influence not to toe the abhorrent resolve of retrogressive politicians to unhinge the political stability of Edo and Ondo States in the same vein that of Nigeria.” Nzenwa stated
