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The Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, has told the new leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, that Nigerians expect credible, transparent and inclusive elections where every vote is counted and counts in the overall result.
Chairman of IPAC, DR Yusuf Dantalle, stated this when he led the leaders of political parties to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Quarterly Consultative meeting with Political Parties in Abuja on Tuesday.
Dantalle said there was the need for stakeholders to continue to sanitise the nation’s democratic system to meet the yearnings of citizens who desire and deserve dividends of constitutional rule and not rhetoric.
He maintained that after 26 years of unbroken democracy in the country, there was no reason why things should not be done in the highest standards.
According to the IPAC Chairman, the ongoing Constitution and Electoral Act amendments provide yet another opportunity to advance Nigeria’s democracy.
IPAC has been engaging the National Assembly and critical stakeholders on the review of the legal frameworks for sustainable democracy and development.
IPAC said it has submitted its proposals to the House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Review on Monday 6th October 2025, and the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters yesterday.
It proposed the scrapping of the State Independent Electoral Commissions, SIECs and vesting the responsibility of conducting all Local Governments elections on INEC, reservation of special seats for women, restoration of funding for political parties to provide for a level playing field for all political parties.
”Establishment of Electoral Offences Commission to try electoral offenders, removal of the power to appoint the INEC Chairman, Secretary, National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners from the executive to ensure the independence of the commission from political influence, amongst others.
The council urged the National Assembly to expedite action on the reforms as time is of the essence.
“Nigerians expect credible, transparent and inclusive elections where every vote is counted and counts in the overall result,” Dantalle said.
“The litmus test of the new leadership is the conduct of the November 8, 2025 Anambra State governorship election.
“The success of this off-cycle election will set the stage for the upcoming elections in 2026 including the Federal Capital Territory Area Council polls, Osun and Ekiti States gubernatorial elections and the decisive 2027 general election. INEC should put its acts together and get it right.
“With new leadership, citizens’ expectations are high, very high. The commission should justify the confidence the nation reposed in it.
“This is the only way to rebuild trust in the electoral process and encourage mass participation in future polls.”
Your litmus test is Anambra election – IPAC to new INEC leadership
