The National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, has emphasized the importance of restoring confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the upcoming Edo and Ondo governorship elections.
Speaking on Thursday, August 29, 2024 at an emergency meeting with political party leaders at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja,
Dantalle described the Edo State election, set for September 21, 2024, as “a chance to restore confidence in the electoral process by ensuring the sanctity of the ballot box.” He highlighted the election as a critical test for Nigerian democracy, stating, “After 25 years of uninterrupted democracy in Nigeria, we must get it right this time.”
Dantalle also stressed the importance of internal democracy within political parties, noting that the failure to comply with party constitutions has led to “crises, leadership disagreements, factionalizations, and litigations.” He urged party leaders to “jettison impunity and embrace internal democracy,” emphasizing that “we must live and lead by example.”
To combat the issue of fake certificates among candidates, Dantalle announced a partnership between IPAC and the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN) to verify and authenticate aspirants’ certificates before they contest primaries. This step, he said, is aimed at “restoring sanity in the electoral process.”
Dantalle also called on INEC to ensure a neutral stance and prepare adequately for the elections, particularly regarding the use of BVAS and IReV portals. “The success of these elections will rebuild trust in the electoral process and boost voter turnout,” he stated.