From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the votes cast by the electorate during the Edo State governorship election count.
IPAC also reminded the commission that conducting a credible, transparent election in Edo will go a long way in restoring confidence in the electoral system in the country.
National Chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, gave the charge in his remarks during an emergency meeting between heads of political parties and the electoral commission held in Abuja on Thursday.
Dantalle further claimed that the success of the Edo election will not only drastically reduce post-election litigations, but also be a litmus test on what becomes the outcome of the forthcoming Ondo State governorship election.
“Democracy has come to stay in Nigeria. Periodic election is the beauty of constitutional governance as power resides in the people. The Edo governorship polls will be a litmus test for the Ondo State governorship election scheduled for November, which in turn gives direction to future elections in the country.
“IPAC urges political parties and their candidates to imbibe issue-based campaigns that will unite the people and foster development and sustainable democracy. There is no place for politics of bitterness and violence that has impeded the nation’s hard earned democracy.
“It is time to change the narrative. It is time for patriotism. It is time to strengthen, deepen and advance our democracy. It is a collective task in the quest for a strong, united, progressive, prosperous, equitable and just democratic society,” Dantalle noted.
Throwing the challenge on the commission, the association’s boss said: “The good people of Edo State are willing to come out en masse and vote for their next governor if the environment is conducive and their votes will count in the overall result.”
“That is where the challenge is, and where IPAC will collaborate with other stakeholders including INEC, security agencies, election observers and the media to ensure that all votes are counted and reflect the wish of the electorate.
“The success of the election will drastically reduce post-election litigations and reinforce trust and confidence in the electoral process, thus, bolster voter turnout. It will also save the Judiciary from undue intervention and interference in the declaration of the winner of an election,” he suggested.
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