Hardship: IPAC demands improved living standards for citizens ahead Ondo election

The Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, has urged governments at all levels to improve the people’s well-being in tandem with Section 14(2)b of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.

IPAC said that urgent steps must be taken to ameliorate the hardship that millions of Nigerians face daily, adding that this will spur the political participation of the citizens to give more credence to the electoral process.

The Council spoke through National Chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantelle at the INEC Fourth Quarterly Consultative meeting with leaders of political parties in Abuja.

The meeting was held ahead of the Saturday, November 16, 2024 governorship election in Ondo State.

“After 25 years of unbroken democracy, the state of the nation is sour. Nigerians are disillusioned. The rising cost of living and political tension have dampened citizens’ morale in the electoral process resulting in low voter turnout in elections,” IPAC said.

“Citizens’ participation in elections is critical for sustainable democracy as power resides in the people. The need to create an environment conducive to successful elections, political stability, economic growth and public safety cannot be overemphasized.

“Nigerians expect INEC to improve on the Saturday 16th November 2024, Ondo State gubernatorial poll.”

Council urges stakeholders in the electoral process to join in voter education, sensitisation and mobilisation to ensure a free, fair, credible, transparent, inclusive, and peaceful election that will meet international standards.

IPAC urged political parties and their candidates to imbibe issue-based campaigns and eschew politics of bitterness.

It called on the commission to put its act together, provide adequate electoral materials, and test run its BVAS and IReV portals to avoid undue technical hitches and glitches that will cast doubt on the integrity of the election.

“The issue of late arrival of election materials to some polling units must be addressed to reinforce confidence in the polls. Equally important is effective communication by the commission’s officials particularly during the collation of results to avoid suspicion of manipulation of results as it happened in the Edo State governorship election where some politicians stormed the collation centre to know why collation of results was suspended. Nigerians, indeed the entire world expect transparency in the conduct of elections,” IPAC said.

“Security agents, election observers and the media have critical roles to play in ensuring the success of the poll. They are urged to discharge their duties with utmost responsibility and patriotism. Vote trading has been the bane of most elections in Nigeria.

“Security agents should apprehend and prosecute vote buyers and sellers and their sponsors to face the full weight of the law. We must sanitise the electoral process to stimulate increased restoration of trust that will encourage citizens participation in elections.”