The Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC of Nigeria Anambra branch has released a press briefing condemning Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the unlawful, unjustified deregistration of different political parties.
INEC had proceeded in an unprovoked action of deregistering some political parties earlier this year.
20-02-2020
PRESS BRIEFING
A COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AFTER THE GENERAL MEETING OF INTER-PARTY ADVISORY COUNCIL (IPAC) ANAMBRA STATE CHAPTER ON THE RASCALITY AND
INSENSITIVITY OF INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC) LED BY PROF YAKUBU MAHMOOD IN THE DEREGISTRATION OF 74 REGISTERED
POLITICAL PARTIES IN NIGERIA;
THE INGENUITY AND BOLDNESS OF HON. JUSTICE ANWULI CHIKERE OF THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT 3 ABUJA IN UPHOLDING THE JUDICIARY AS AN UNBIASED EMPIRE AND THE VERY LAST HOPE OF THE COMMON MAN IN HER RULING OF FEBRUARY 6TH 2020 THAT INEC HAS NO POWERS WHATSOEVER TO DEREGISTER POLITICAL PARTIE; A VOTE OF EXPLICIT CONFIDENCE ON THE LEADERSHIP OF INTER-PARTY ADVISORY COUNCIL, ANAMBRA STATE CHAPTER LED BY HON. PRINCE ISAAC ONUKA.
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Anambra State Chapter today being 20th February 2020 in its general meeting held at East End Hotels, Awka and attended by over fifty registered political party chairmen in Anambra State, rose with a vote of explicit confidence on the leadership of Prince Isaac Onuka led State Executive.
The Council of all the registered political parties took a constructive notice of the rascality and insensitivity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) led by Prof. Yakubu Mahmood in callously and unlawfully deregistering seventy four registered political parties in Nigeria on February 6th 2020. The Council, on a related development, also took a judicial notice of the ingenuity and boldness of Hon. Justice Anwuli Chikere of Federal High Court 3 Abuja, for once again upholding the judiciary as an unbiased umpire and the very last hope of the common man by calling a spade by its name and sending the leadership of INEC to where it rightly belongs.
The Anambra State Chapter of the Council heaved a sigh of relief that in the course of our journey as citizens and subjects to the law of the land in a country suddenly overtaken by’ paper degree holders’ that have no regard for the rule of law and basic principles of civilized democracy obtainable in the 21st Century against the vision of our founding fathers, the Judge has shown that there are still individuals who are dedicated to their professional duties and commitment in line with the vision of our fore bearers.
The ruling of Hon. Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court Abuja that INEC leadership has no powers to chastise registered political parties in Nigeria by the deregistration which has exposed the conspiracy between INEC and Powers that be to disenfranchise Nigerians.
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It is therefore noteworthy that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) does not fund political parties, but has been at the receiving end and the beneficiary of all political activities. The winning of elections induced by vote buying as criteria to be a political party is a bad omen. Blaming political parties for not winning elective positions in highly monetized elections that are sponsored with government funds does not comply with the acceptable international standard. Apportioning blames to political parties in a country where local government elections were not conducted amounts to giving the dog a bad name in order to hang it. IPAC hereby place a demand for immediate conduct of Local Government and Councillorship elections across the twenty one local government and three hundred and twenty six electoral wards in Anambra State with immediate effect, inviting the Federal Government to withhold local government funds from all the State of the Federation where local government elections are not conducted.
The IPAC is disappointed and shocked that instead of INEC to look inwards to checkmate the spate of electoral fraud and vote buying which has become the bane of our democracy; it has thrown caution to the wind and sold its independence to the powers that be for a plate of porridge. It is ridiculous that INEC that is manned by professionals has abandoned the ethics and has become an exhaust pipe to the citizens by robbing Peter to pay Paul as evidenced in the processing of about one hundred requests for registration, turned around and unlawfully deregistering seventy four political parties, WHAT A SHAME?
This communiqué hereby call on the ruling party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) to remember that they are a product of Party registration, which coalition of registered political parties fought for, that absolute powers corrupts absolutely, that Nigeria can only grow her democracy by emulating their counterparts in developed countries who allow multiple political parties as a way of giving voice to the people at the grass-root.
IPAC Anambra State also thanked His Excellency Dr. Peter Ameh, National Chairman and the National leadership of the Inter-Party Advisory Council for their steadfastness by lawfully insisting on the unity and oneness of Nigeria more than any other group and also use the occasion to call on the Anambra Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Hon. Prince Isaac Onuka to immediately engage the Anambra State government and other critical stakeholders in the State to quickly commence all processes towards the conduct of Local Government election in the State as we continue to hold up the light of the Nation Anambra, towards enduring safety and prosperity.
Long live IPAC, Anambra State! Long live Anambra State!!
Long live National IPAC!!!
Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!!
By Nonso Ekwunife
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
