By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja
The Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, an umbrella body for all the registered political parties in the country, has made case for the scrapping of the States Independent Electoral Commission, SIECs.
The National Chairman of IPAC, Alhaji Yusuf Mamman Dantalle made the call, Monday in Abuja, during the third quarterly consultative meeting between the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu and the leaders of the registered political parties in the country, ahead of the forthcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States this year.
He hinged the call for the scrapping of SIECs on the pertinent need 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 projects”.
The SIECS, he pointed out, 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.
It also means that governments at all levels must be held accountable as power resides in the people.
“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 insisted that for the forthcoming Edo election, there is no substitute for credible election in order to restore the electoral integrity and mass participation.
