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Tag: IPAC

  • IPAC passes vote of no confidence on OSIEC over council poll

    IPAC passes vote of no confidence on OSIEC over council poll

    The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has passed a vote of no confidence on Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) over plans ahead of Local Government election slated for February 22, 2025. The council, in a statement jointly signed by its chairman, Victor Akande, Secretary, Oluseye Odesola and Publicity Secretary, 

    Dr. Gbenga Afeni on Saturday, stated that OSSIEC had been scheming ways to manipulate the election when its deliberately fixed a crucial meeting with political party chairmen on a date that was not convenient.  

    He said: “Despite the promising leadership at OSSIEC, IPAC observed a lack of concrete action on the ground. We deeply concerned that OSSIEC’s approach signals a reluctance to conduct transparent and credible elections. 

    “The lack of communication with political parties since the initial meeting raises further doubts about OSSIEC’s commitment to a fair electoral process.”

    IPAC  called on the Osun House of Assembly to intervene and prompt OSIEC to adhere to constitutional obligations within a reasonable timeframe.

  • IPAC pledges loyalty to Abiodun

    IPAC pledges loyalty to Abiodun

    Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Ogun State has pledged  to cooperate   with the administration Dapo Abiodun.

     Making this pledge is the new Chairman, Sanyaolu Abayomi, who led other chairmen of  14 parties to a meeting with Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi, in Abeokuta.

    Addressing the gathering, which had the Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC), Tunde Oladunjoye, in attendance, the chairman repeated his earlier stance that the body “is not an opposition group, neither can it endorse a candidate”.

    Read Also: Lagos IPAC extols lawmaker’s ‘exemplary leadership’

    “We pledge our loyalty to the government. We are partners in progress. We want to call on government to open its doors for us and carry us along in the implementation of its ISEYA agenda”, Abayomi said. “We are not an opposition party. We want to work with the government. If there were disagreements in the past, we want to assure government that those issues have been resolved today and IPAC is one house and we are forging ahead”, he added. While urging that such interface with government should be on a regular basis, Abayomi commended Abiodun’s achievements, especially in Education. He informed that IPAC has unveiled books to  be distributed in demonstration of its support for government’s accomplishments in education.

     The secretary said the administration is dedicated to peace and harmony.

  • Lagos IPAC extols lawmaker’s ‘exemplary leadership’

    Lagos IPAC extols lawmaker’s ‘exemplary leadership’

    The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Lagos State  has described the lawmaker representing Ifako Ijaiye Constituency 1, Lagos State, Adewale Temitope Adedeji  as the best.

    It was during the council’s visit to  the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday.

    The visit  was led by  IPAC Charman, Mrs. Temilola Akinade. The members took off from the constituency office

    The purpose of the visit was to  appreciate  Adewale Temitope for  what the council called his significant achievements in transportation, education, infrastructure upgrades, health, welfare, among others, and to solicit a working relationship for the betterment of  the state.

    Heaping praises on  Adewale Temitope, Mrs. Akinade said: “I have been monitoring your activities for some years and the feedback has been impressive. I spoke to someone who doubted your capabilities because of your young age, but you have proven to be excellent.

    “I am pleased to be in your local government. You have excelled in education, infrastructure, restoring sanity to Lagos roads with your bill, among other areas.

    “We have been collaborating with APC, and that’s one of the reasons we are here. The ruling party is performing well, and we are here to offer our support for peaceful elections and a progressive state.”

    “I am proud of you, sir, and would like to work with you.”

    Also , IPAC Organizing Secretary, Adenipebi Adekunle, expressed his delight that  Adewale Temitope, being a youth, has set standards for good leadership beyond his role as a legislator.

    “Your impact has transcended beyond what we initially expected. You have gone beyond your duties as a legislator, as we see your efforts in intervention areas such as drainage, empowerment, infrastructure, roads, and donating money to CDA.

    “IPAC has been a strategic body in the state, and we need partners in progress for a greater Lagos where we collaborate with stakeholders. There has been synergy between the state and us. We thank you for welcoming us.

    “God has given you leadership skills, and people beyond Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government  know they can count on your intellect for the state and Nigeria’s growth at large,” he said.

    The Legal Adviser, IPAC, Adewale Bolaji, praised   Temitope for meeting the team at such short notice.

    “You accommodated us at short notice, and we appreciate that. We are on this visit as part of the synergy we are building. Ifako-Ijaiye is the first LG we are visiting.”

    He added that IPAC would offer constructive criticism and urged him to be open-minded.

    “We, as IPAC, will offer constructive criticism, and we urge you to have an open mind. If we identify areas for improvement, we will bring them to your attention for the benefit of Lagos and all Lagosians, especially those at the grassroots.

    “We are impressed; seeing younger individuals initiating new initiatives is encouraging. God will continue to be with you and your entire household.”

    Replying,  Adewale Temitope thanked the IPAC team for the visit.

    “I extend a big thank you and welcome you to our Constituency Office. It’s significant that this is our first meeting, and it’s happening in Ifako-Ijaiye. Everyone has value, and that’s part of why you’re here today. This visit has shed new light on the fact that whatever you do, people are watching – the world is watching, so do it very well.”

    He shed light on his journey since assuming office in 2019, listing some of his achievements.

    “It’s been a tough journey so far, being young and all. We faced challenges with COVID-19 and ENDSars. My administration is focused on two things – infrastructure, which includes facilitating roads, Ifako-Ijaiye Bus Terminal, Iju Train Station, among others. Over 42 roads have been facilitated within the local government. Roads such as Ibari, Fagbohun, Coker, Olorunfemi, Jagunmolu, and most notably, the Abiola Onijemo Bridge, which will be inaugurated by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    Read Also: Fed Govt to save N300b from redesigned Second Niger Bridge Bypass

    “The Ifako-Ijaiye mini-stadium is about 80 percent complete, thanks to Mr. Governor, who listened to us, demolished the old structure, and began reconstruction. It should be ready by the middle of the year.

    “We have also implemented employment and welfare packages, with over 1,500 people benefiting from health insurance. We will launch the third phase next month, increasing the scheme’s coverage to 2,000 people.

    “Our educational initiative, the ATA-EI, is also making waves. These are some of our achievements.

    “Regarding my role as chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, we have achieved a milestone with the transportation sector reform law, which I spearheaded with the Governor’s consent. We have deployed blue buses to gradually replace yellow buses and reduce the influence of agberos.”

    Responding to the need for criticism, he emphasized the importance of feedback, especially for a politician.

    I hope we can maintain this relationship. Feedback is crucial, and it can be positive or negative; the negative feedback is what helps us improve. Whenever we fall short, please let us know. Let’s foster a working relationship where we communicate openly and resolve issues.

    “You are welcome to visit anytime you need to. The conference hall is available to you at any time.

    “You also have a responsibility to support our President as he continues to work towards a better life for all Nigerians. I urge you to unite other parties to work with the government but also hold them accountable when necessary.”

  • Godfathers, reactionary forces creating problems in political parties, says IPAC

    Godfathers, reactionary forces creating problems in political parties, says IPAC

    National chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and national chairman of Allied People’s Movement (APM), Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, on Tuesday, March 19, said that factionalization and the imposition of candidates within political parties were orchestrated by what he termed as notorious godfathers and reactionary forces from other political factions, aimed at securing dominance in the electoral process.

    The IPAC chairman who spoke at the quarterly meeting between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and leaders of political parties said the act of creating problems in other political parties must be resisted by all lovers of democracy in Nigeria.

    He said: “It is time to sanitize the electoral system, ensure the integrity of elections that will reinforce citizens’ confidence in the nation’s emerging democracy.”

    Dantalle, who spoke on the need to improve the nation’s electoral process that will drastically reduce post-election petitions and litigations, said the council will engage leaders of Political Parties on strict adherence to internal party democracy in the nomination of candidates for various elective offices which will in turn reduce pre- elections litigations.

    He lamented that funds that should have been deployed to deepen party politics and structures in the country are spent on avoidable litigations that distracted, disorganized, disrupted and destabilized activities of most political parties and eventually change of leadership.

    Read Also: Ajadi fecilitates Olayoku as new IPAC Dept National Chairman

    While expressing concern about the state of mind of the nation, he called for patriotism to redirect the ship of the Nigerian state to the path of growth and development, saying, “There is hunger in the land. This is a trying period for our beloved nation.

    “As leaders of political parties so much is expected of us in brainstorming, articulating, formulating and proposing alternative policies and programmes that will accelerate economic growth, political stability, religious harmony and security of citizens in the fatherland.”

    Dantelle stressed that the task of rebuilding the nation is the responsibility of the populace irrespective of political affiliations, saying, “We should reaffirm our faith in the fatherland and rededicate ourselves to the service of the nation.

    “If political party leaders had been proactive in responding to national issues and engaging governments at all levels on ill-conceived and anti-people policies and actions, proffered alternative course of actions, perhaps the country would not have been in this sorry state. Unfortunately, we allowed partisan politics to becloud our sense of patriotism.”

    He said further the performance of opposition political parties in the elections was a welcome 2023 development and an expression of Nigerians’ faith and confidence in democracy.

    He said: “The lessons from the general election, off-season governorship elections, and rerun polls will give the Commission and Political Parties yet another opportunity to review and reexamine the Constitution, Electoral Act, the guidelines and regulations for the conduct of elections, and make necessary amendments that will strengthen the electoral process and integrity of elections conducted.

    “Election is the beauty of democracy. The ballot is sacred and sacrosanct. It is our duty as political leaders to ensure the elections meet international best practices and also hold critical stakeholders accountable. Vote selling and buying, thuggery, voters’ apathy, and intimidation of electoral officials particularly to declare results under duress are still issues militating against the conduct of credible polls in Nigeria.

    “IPAC will set up a Constitution and Electoral Act Amendments Committee to review glaring irregularities in recent elections and make proposals to the National Assembly in its ongoing Constitution and Electoral Act amendments.”

    He challenged the leadership of the commission to ensure that the Edo and Ondo States gubernatorial elections meet the expectations of Nigerians and the international community, saying “There should be no excuse for poor performance.”

  • How Nigeria can learn from Liberia’s electioneering process– IPAC

    How Nigeria can learn from Liberia’s electioneering process– IPAC

    The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has said Nigeria can learn and adopt to strengthen its electioneering process through what it observed at the 2023 Liberian Presidential Election held on the 10th of this month.

     The National Chairman of IPAC, Engr Yabagi Yusuf while briefing journalists during the weekend after his arrival from Monrovia, capital of Liberia said despite the election being marred by violence in Africa, it was observed that the citizenry were very much enlightened on keeping peace, reason and need to vote and on issues at play. 

    He added that the reason they embarked on the Election Observer Mission (EOM) was to avail the Council an opportunity to learn, compare and contrast the experiences between what obtains in Nigeria and those countries.

    He said the IPAC-EOM to Liberia, had four members who were sponsored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Yusuf said on election day, each poll station had an average of seven polling units, and as early as 8.30 am when they arrived at the first one, the turnout was huge where officers and party agents were all present.

     “The same thing with the nine polling stations we observed. Even under the sun and in two cases rain, people stood in the queue waiting for their turn. “The list of voters and their pictures were displayed on the walls of the area where the stations were located.

    Read Also: Ex-militants seek pipeline protection contract for Ondo, Ogun, Lagos

    ”Also the pictures of each contestant and his/her name were on the ballot papers unlike in Nigeria. While this looks good, considering the sheer number of contestants and the ever-changing list of candidates due to court orders, this may not be an option for our country for now.

     “There were two main contestants viz; the sitting President George Weah of CDC and Joseph Bogai of the Unity Party. There were 22 other candidates for the presidency”.

    “The October 10 elections availed voters the opportunity to elect a President, 15 Senators, and 73 Members of the House of Representatives. Of the country’s 5.4 million population,  2,471,617 voters were certified by the National Elections Commission (NEC) in the Final Registration Roll (FRR) to vote in 5,890 polling places.

     “They have a situation room in place many weeks before the election to track activities on campaigns and trouble spots.

    “They have a well-equipped call center where calls on complaints from any part of the country are monitored 24/7. Police, immigration, and other security officials are stationed in the Situation Room,” Yagabi noted.

    He said enlightenment wasn’t just about voters’ education but awareness of the environment, action and inactions and rule of law.

    The IPAC Chairman further stated that the few rallies they attended were peaceful, as party men and women were excited with their party affairs.

  • Be father to all, IPAC tells Sanwo-Olu

    The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Lagos State on Friday urged the state Governor-elect, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu to be a father to all residents and prioritise alleviating suffering of the people.

    Alhaji Shakirudeen Olofin, the state Chairman of IPAC, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of the presentation of certificates of return to Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat.

    NAN reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State on Friday presented certificates of return to Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat at the commission’s headquarters, in Sabo-Yaba.

    “I congratulate the Governor-elect on his victory at the polls.

    “I want to advise him strongly that after the election, he should assume the role of father; he is now father to all.

    “Election has come and gone, he is not governing only APC members, he is governing entire Lagosians,” Olofin, also the state chairman of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) said.

    He advised Sanwo-Olu to put in place service-oriented governance that would meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

    The Governor-elect, he said, should make Lagos residents enjoy dividends of democracy through good welfare programmes and people-oriented policies.

    “We wish him (Sanwo-Olu) the best as he takes the leadership of Lagos State from incumbent Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode and we wish Mr Akinwunmi Ambode the best after his tenure,” he said.

    While setting agenda for Sanwo-Olu, the IPAC boss urged the governor-elect to make good all his campaign promises of taking the state to higher heights.

    He also listed tackling of the perennial gridlock and issues of the environment among priorities for the governor-elect.

    According to him, the opposition parties are ready to cooperate and support Sanwo-Olu in the interest of the people of Lagos and to help him achieve success in his administration.

  • IPAC insists on violence-free elections

    The Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC) has insisted that elections must be credible and violence-free.

    The body embarked on a nationwide voter education and sensitisation which berthed in  Akwa Ibom State yesterday.

    The National Chairman, High Chief Peter Ameh, who led state and chapter officials on a roadshow in Uyo, said the exercise was to ensure that the elections are devoid of malfeasance.

    Ameh, who addressed a news conference yesterday, reiterated that the election was not worth the blood of any Nigerian, and so the council has interfaced with parties, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders to sanitise the process.

    He said: “We must be reminded that the political ambition of any Nigerian is not worth the blood of any fellow Nigerian, or by extension the destruction of property, age-long inter-ethnic and inter-religious harmony among Nigerians, or erosion of elementary and primary friendships among families.

    “Let us learn and write this in our hearts, and uphold this doctrine in the general elections. We urge the youths and all voters, security agencies and stakeholders to support IPAC’s call to deepen democracy through fostering free and credible 2019 elections.

    “As political parties, we are unified and committed to ensuring the success of this election.”

     

  • Election: Umahi directs supporters to be at polling units by 6am

    Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has directed the state’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters to move to their polling units on election days by 6 a.m., to prevent possible electoral malpractices.

    Umahi gave the directive on Friday at Ikwo Local Government Area during the flag-off of his election campaign, urging the supporters to remain at the polling units after casting their votes.

    “Nobody should attempt any form of malpractice because we will resist such with everything we have.

    “When I was asked to sign the peace accord by the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC), I signed but said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies should actually sign the accord.

    “There will be peace if they say let there be peace and if they refuse, there will not be,” he said.

    The governor noted that anybody collecting gratifications to perpetuate malpractices during the elections was risking his life because Ebonyi people would not agree to such.

    “Anyone coming for elections in the state should do the right thing because we are not asking for favours, having been blessed by God.

    “Henceforth, appointments into governmental positions will not be based on local government area considerations but on support to the PDP and its candidates.

    Read Also: Umahi donates operational vehicles to security agencies

    “Do not allow people to deceive you with all sorts of insinuations as everybody supporting the PDP must vote for the party’s candidates.

    “We are commencing our house-to-house campaign from Sunday, Jan. 20, and party faithful should post their findings on our social media platform,” he said.

    Umahi said that the campaign was flagged-off in Ikwo Local Government due to the electoral success recorded when such flag-off commenced in the area in 2015.

    “You gave 90 per cent of your votes when an incumbent governor from the area was not supporting us and you hadn’t a present deputy governor, three commissioners and other appointments.

    “I am optimistic that you will give us 100 percent presently with our infrastructural strides in roads and plans to make the Oferekpe water scheme functional, among others,” the governor said.

    Dr Kelechi Igwe, the Deputy Governor, who hails from the area, thanked the governor for replicating the flag-off of the campaign in the area and assured of the peoples’ total support.

    “The women of the area and decampees from the All Progressive Congress (APC) have donated Sienna buses respectively in appreciation of your numerous developmental strides and to support your re-election,” he said.

    Chief Uche Secondus, the PDP National Chairman, urged the electorate to vote for all PDP candidates from the presidential to the House of Assembly level.

    Secondus, represented by Chief Austin Umahi, the party’s National Vice-Chairman-South East Zone, said that the journey to the party’s electoral victory in 2015 started in Ikwo Local Government Area and expressed optimism of a repeat performance.

    Mr Onyekachi Nwebonyi, the state Party Chairman, noted that the governor had justified his campaign with his numerous infrastructural strides across the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the occasion witnessed the defection of APC supporters to PDP, presentation of PDP candidates from the area and goodwill messages from party faithful among others.

  • 2019: Money politics threatening free and fair elections – IPAC

    National Chairman of the Inter Party Advisory  Council (IPAC), Chief Peter Ameh has said that the resort to money politics was threatening free and fair elections in the country as it rob ordinary Nigerians the opportunity to participate in the democratic process in the country.

    Ameh spoke just as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it was modifying its modalities for tracking campaign finances, saying individual candidates should also be encouraged to report their campaign finances to the commission.

    Chief Ameh who spoke at the opening of a two day capacity building for political party leaders organised by the Political Parties Leadership and Policy Development Centre of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) said unless money politics is completely discouraged, the nation’s multi party see democracy may be under serious threat.

    He said “Money politics has been a major issue and INEC has been on that. We must commend for coming up with forms. We need a free and fair election and with money politics play a critical role against achieving that. Politics is threatened if we have have a free and fair election.

    “We have had a lot of discussion on that and eye discovered that INEC is very concerned. It is very important that we reduce the extent of money politics in out political culture. We must be able to have a law that states how much a candidate should spend on election. We must be able to check their adverts, rallies and television campaign and how much these things cost. Our elections must not be the way it is.

    Read Also: IPAC to Nigerians: vote credible candidates

    “Ordinary Nigerian should be able to participate in because that is the essence of multi-party democracy. If you are popular with your people, you should be able to go to any party and contest. What we have now is that people just feel that they context and do anything including paying as much as N50 million for form. When you spend so much to organize convention and campaigns, where is the position of the ordinary person.

    “Democracy is supposed to be for the people, but when it exclude the people, then it is no longer democracy. So, at our level of IPAC, our agenda is to ensure that Nigerian must be allowed to work. We know that money play a critical role in politics, but our case is different because it come with thuggery. We must condemn money politics and we must be able to work together and see how we can streamline what comes out of it.”

    Director of Election and Monitoring unit of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Alhaji Aminu Idris said the major challenge facing the commission was monitoring campaign finances of individual candidates, stressing that while the law provide for the tracking of party campaign finances, individual candidates should be encouraged to report their campaign financing to the commission.

    He said the Commission has carried out a lot of training both for its staff and political parties on how to track campaign funding and expenditure.

    He said “We have done a lot of training for our staff on how to track campaign financing of candidates and political parties. We have also collaborate with donor partner to training political parties on how to report because the requirements of the lawn is for political parties to report their campaign expenses six months after their election and also report their income and the source of the income three months after the election.

    “What the commission has tried to do is train political parties on how to make these reports and we have designed forms which we will distribute to political parties and their candidates so that at the end of the election, they will report their income and expenses.

    “The commission is also tracking the visible campaign expenses of candidates, including billboards, adverts in the media and campaign rallies. At the end of the day, the objective of the reporting is not to see who is breaking the law, but to see the actual cost of running for the office of the governor in different parts of the country. Once we see that, it might be the basis for advocating for the change in the campaign funding limit.

    “The only way we know about third party financing is by reporting and that is the challenge because you cannot measure what has not been reported. We cannot base our tracking on rumours because that will not give you what is required. So, we need to encourage parties and their candidates to report the sources of their campaign funds. Even though it is only parties that are required to report on their campaign finances, candidates should be encouraged to do so.”

    Also speaking, the Chief Operating Officer of the Political Parties Leadership and Policy Development Centre, Prof. Habu Galadima said the aim of the training was to sensitive the parties about the policy and legal framework and regulations governing campaign financing.

    He said “the purpose of our gathering here is sensitive the political parties, especially their Organizing Secretaries to understand the redesigned INEC standardized finance tracking form and understand the template better so as to be able to track campaign funds of their parties so that at the end of the day, they will not be in breach of the law concerning campaign financing. The issue of campaign finance can make or Mar the entire process and so, this is key to us.

     

     

  • Ekiti: Don’t disappoint the people, IPAC tells Fayemi

    The Inter-Party Advisory Council ( IPAC ) on Monday congratulated Dr Kayode Fayemi on his victory in Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State .

    The Chairman of IPAC in the state, Mr Ilesanmi Omolayo, congratulated Fayemi while speaking with our reporter on telephone from Ado-Ekiti.

    He said the victory of Fayemi, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), over his closest rival,Prof. Olushola Eleka of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), reflected the will of the people.

    Omolayo said that with Fayemi’s election, the people had put their trust in him to better their lots, urging the governor-elect to work to meet their expectations and not disappoint them.

    “We congratulate Dr Fayemi on his election as the new governor of our dear state and wish him all the best.

    “We believe the outcome of the election reflects the will of the people. The people actually spoke.

    “However, we urge Fayemi to see his victory as a call to service to meet the expectations of Ekiti people.

    “We advise him not to betray the trust reposed in him and disappoint them, but to work for the collective interest of everyone in the state”, he said.

    The IPAC chairman also lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for what he called the credible conduct of the election.

    He said IPAC was pleased with the conduct by INEC and efforts of security agents and other stakeholders to make the election a success.

    Omolayo dismissed complaints in some quarters that the election result was manipulated, describing such as baseless.

    “You see when some people’s expectations in elections are not realised, they tend to say all sorts of things.

    “For the records, the results of the last Saturday election in Ekiti were not manipulated. I can say this, because IPAC monitored the whole process.

    “in fact, I moved from one local government to another on the election day, and I can tell that the whole process was transparent.

    “At the final collation centre, I, as IPAC chairman, was the one that opened all the ballot boxes and everything was sorted out and counted in the presence of everybody.

    “I urge everyone to put politics aside and accept the fact that the election was okay. We should all join hands with the governor-elect to move Ekiti forward,” he said.