IPAC kicks against LG Independent Electoral Commission

The Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, has kicked against the proposed bill by the Senate to create the so-called Local Government Independent Electoral Commission, saying it is ill-conceived.

IPAC further called for the amendment of the Constitution and the Electoral Act to empower INEC to conduct all Local Government polls.

IPAC Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at the third regular quarterly consultative meeting between INEC and political parties.

The council also called for the scrapping of States Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), saying to restore confidence in the electoral system, INEC should be empowered to conduct all Local Government elections.

Dantalle claimed that the die is cast for the Edo State governorship election and that there is no substitute for a free, fair, credible, transparent, inclusive and peaceful poll.

Advertisement

He noted that the success of the election along with Ondo’s will go a long way in restoring trust in the democratic process essential for enduring representative governance.

“To further deepen democracy at the grassroots level, IPAC demands the immediate scrapping of the States Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs).

“The charade called elections they conduct is an aberration, dent and mockery of our emerging democracy; a waste of taxpayers’ money that ought to have been channelled to developmental projects.

“SIECS do not have voter registers, BVAS, IReV portals, ballot boxes and trained personnel to conduct credible elections. The polls they pretend to conduct contribute to voters’ apathy and distrust in the electoral process.

“The Council rejects the proposed bill by the Senate to create the so-called Local Government Independent Electoral Commission, bearing in mind that it would be another SIEC in disguise.

“It is unacceptable, ill-conceived, another electoral jamboree that will impede the nation’s democracy and waste public funds at a time when citizens demand a smaller government to reduce the cost of governance,” it said.