IPAC Urges INEC to Exercise Caution in ADC Leadership Crisis Handling
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has issued a strong appeal to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), urging the electoral body to exercise caution and strictly adhere to due process in its handling of the ongoing leadership situation within the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The council emphasized that internal party disagreements should not be automatically interpreted as a leadership vacuum, stressing that existing party structures remain legally valid even when they are being contested through proper channels.
Warning Against Premature Actions
In a detailed statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Egbeola Wale Martins, IPAC expressed serious concerns that recent actions taken by INEC regarding the ADC leadership dispute could potentially trigger avoidable political instability if not managed with careful deliberation. Martins highlighted that while periodic updates to the voter register are undoubtedly vital for strengthening Nigeria's democratic framework, the timing of certain initiatives raises significant operational and logistical questions.
"IPAC acknowledges that periodic updates of the voter register are essential to fortifying Nigeria's democracy," Martins stated. "However, the timing of the proposed Nationwide Voter Revalidation Exercise raises serious practical concerns that must be addressed."
Concerns Over Electoral Timetable Congestion
The council pointed out that political parties are currently burdened with numerous critical obligations stemming from the new Electoral Act. These include ongoing nationwide membership registration drives that require mandatory National Identification Number (NIN) verification within a limited timeframe, preparations for upcoming party primaries, and the Verification and Compliance Assessments that INEC itself is scheduled to conduct.
"Introducing an additional nationwide exercise without broad consultation, particularly with political parties and without adequate preparation, risks disenfranchising millions of eligible voters who may struggle to navigate an overly complex electoral calendar," Martins explained. "We therefore strongly urge INEC to reconsider the timing of this exercise to prevent creating an excessively congested electoral environment that may ultimately exclude, rather than include, more citizens in the democratic process."
Specific Issue Regarding Name Removals
IPAC specifically expressed alarm over the reported removal of the names of Distinguished Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from INEC's official portal. The council described this action as premature and capable of creating unnecessary instability within the political landscape. Such moves, according to IPAC, could be interpreted as prejudging internal party matters before all dispute resolution mechanisms have been exhausted.
Broader Security Concerns
In the same statement, the council also condemned the persistent killings in Plateau State, describing the ongoing violence as senseless and representing a grave threat to national unity and security. IPAC called on the Federal Government and all security agencies to take urgent and decisive action to end these attacks, protect lives and property, and restore lasting peace to the affected communities.
Martins added, "It is imperative that the perpetrators of these heinous crimes, along with their sponsors, are swiftly apprehended and brought to justice through proper legal channels. Nigeria's democracy can only truly thrive in an environment where electoral processes are transparent, political institutions remain stable, and all citizens feel genuinely safe and protected under the law."
