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 the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct all Local Government polls.
IPAC Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle disclosed this in Abuja at the third regular quarterly consultative meeting between INEC and political parties.
Dantalle 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.
IPAC Chairman 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.
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.
Earlier in his remarks, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu outlined the activities for the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.
The commission chairman reassured the Chairmen of political parties that each party fielding candidates in the forthcoming Governorship election in Edo State will receive the softcopy of the register on 20th August 2024 while that of Ondo State will take place on 15th October 2024.
-Yusuf Dantalle-IPAC Chairman
