BY EZEOCHA NZEH
Political parties under the umbrella body of Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) have called on the National Assembly to initiate a bill that would see to the scrapping of the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) at 36 states of the country
This even as the political parties also rejected the bill currently being debated at the senate for the establishment of the Local Government Electoral Commissions as it wants the conduct of local council elections to be handed over to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INE)
IPAC made it’s position known at the third quarterly meeting of INEC with leaders of political parties at The Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday
The National Chairman of IPAC, Alhaji Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, who spoke on behalf of chairmen of political parties at the meeting said the call for the scrapping of SIECs has become the prettiest in the nations bid to deepen democracy at the grassroots level.
Dantalle described the elections being conducted by SIECs as “charade”and
an aberration, dent and mockery of our emerging democracy; a waste of tax payers’ money that ought to have been channeled to developmental projec”
He pointed out that the SIECS, lack the capacity to conduct credible local council elections in the country, adding that they do not have voter registers, BVAS, IReV portals, ballot boxes and trained personnel to conduct credible elections.
According to Dantalle, “As a major stakeholder in the political process, IPAC is unwavering in its quest for electoral integrity, sanctity of the ballot box and respect to the will and mandate of the people, political stability and well-being of Nigerians.
“After 25 years of unbroken democracy, citizens expect and deserve abundant dividends of democracy from governments at all levels to assuage their sufferings.
“IPAC feels the pains of fellow compatriots and has been in touch with relevant authorities with a view to ameliorating the hardship in the land.
“This is why we must continue to water and nurture the democracy tree into maturity to yield its fruits to citizens and redirect the nation to the path of prosperity and greatness.
“This requires citizens’ active participation in the democratic process.
“In this regard, IPAC commends the recent financial autonomy granted to the 774 Local Governments in Nigeria following the landmark judgement of the Supreme Court. It will go a long way in transforming the nation and providing basic social amenities to citizens at the third tier of government.
“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 tax payers’ money that ought to have been channeled 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.
“To restore confidence in the electoral system, INEC should be empowered to conduct all Local Government elections. “Politics is local, citizens should be encouraged to actively participate in grassroots politics and contribute in building a better society.
“In this vein, IPAC calls for the amendment of the Constitution and the Electoral Act to empower INEC to conduct all Local Governments polls. “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”, the IPAC Chairman declared
He reminded INEC that their would be no substitute for a credible election in Edo state, in order to restore the electoral integrity and mass participation.
