The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to seize the opportunity presented by the upcoming off-cycle governorship elections in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo State to restore the confidence of voters in the electoral process.
IPAC Chairman, Yabagi Sani made the appeal during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday, in preparation for the November 11 governorship elections in these three states.
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In the same vein, the INEC chairman expressed concern over recent court orders and judgments pertaining to the nomination and substitution of party candidates, and their potential impact on the management of sensitive materials for the elections.
INEC said:
“On the issue of candidature, the Commission is concerned about the spate of recent judgments and orders of the court in respect of the nomination, substitution, or disqualification of candidates after all the sensitive materials have been printed. The reprinting of the materials in compliance with court orders within a short period of time is not only expensive but the management of the process very challenging.
“Although the Commission has already published the final list of candidates for the three States, four recent court orders have compelled us to review the list. These changes have been reflected in the updated list of parties and candidates on our website. However, this decision is without prejudice to any pending appeal by the affected candidates or their political parties.”
The meeting was for political parties to receive updates on preparations for the exercise and to voice their concerns to the INEC chief regarding the off-cycle polls.
