Electoral Act: IPAC says era of distortion of figures of votes cast over

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing into law the amended Electoral Act, saying that with the e-transmission of results, the era of changing figures of votes cast is over.

IPAC also urged the National Assembly to expunge the clause pointed out by the President which denies some certain persons their rights to contest elections.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday in Abuja, the IPAC OF National Chairman, Engr Yabagi Sani, said that the section of the electoral Act that made the case for Persons Living with Disabilities is commendable.

“With the Electoral Act and its revolutionary provisions and innovations, there are silver-linings appearing on the nation’s political and democratic firmaments. It is a transformational departure from an inglorious era to a new dawn in the ways and manner of conducting elections in Nigeria.

“Highlights of the new Electoral Act that inspire hope includes the clause that stipulates that fund for general elections must be released at least, one year before the elections.

“This, in the opinion of IPAC, will provide the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the requisite time-span and scope for proper and adequate preparations without the usual encumbrances resulting from delays and red-tapes experienced in the remittance of funds from the government.

“This is just as Section 94 of the Act stipulates early commencement of campaign seasons at least, 150 days to elections. This provision has the advantage of giving the political parties and candidates, sufficient time to get to the electorate with their manifestos.

“With the electronic transmission of election results from the polling units through to the collation centres, we in the IPAC are confident that the practice of distorting figures of votes cast, may have become history.

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“Also very pertinently, we believe that the provisions in the Act for the application of the Bimodal Voters Accreditation and Authentication System (BVAS), as well as the other technologies and digitisation in the electoral process, will tremendously enhance the integrity and credibility of future elections in the country.

“IPAC, along with all progressive-minded Nigerians and concerned members of the global community, are elated by Clause 54 of the Electoral Act 2022 which makes it mandatory for the INEC to make special provisions for people living with disabilities, PLWDs and those with Special Needs.

“This Clause has broadened the scope of inclusiveness as it has largely eliminated the long exclusion of the large population of PLWDs from participating in the electoral and voting processes,” he noted.

He said with signing the Electoral Act into law, the President has succeeded in etching his name in gold in the annals of the nation’s march on the path of democracy and good governance that is consequent on credible elections.

Sani said with a shift of one week on each of the schedules in the countdown to the elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has all the same, deftly ensured that the adjusted timetable is in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.

“To us in IPAC, the swiftness shown by INEC is yet another commendable action that has further raised our long-held confidence in the zeal, diligence and commitment of the Commission in the dispensation of its assignment. We enjoin the other stakeholders to brace up to the pace being set by INEC so as to enhance the overall success of the exercise”, he said.

On the Clause pointed out by the President to be expunged, IPAC said “we share the views of the President on the Clause which makes it mandatory for political appointees to resign from their positions before participating as delegates at political party congresses and conventions or, as aspirants to elective offices.

“To us in IPAC, this Clause runs contrary to the provisions of Sections 40 and 42 of the Constitution on the inalienable fundamental rights of every eligible citizen to participate in the electoral processes.

“Accordingly, the IPAC is calling on the National Assembly to as a matter of urgency, initiate the process of amending the new Act by expunging the contentious Clause.

“While doing so will be in keeping with the understanding between the National Assembly and the President, the amendment will also be bringing the Act in tune with the Constitution which categorically stipulates that political office holders are only to vacate their positions or appointments, thirty (30) days before the elections.”

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Electoral Act: IPAC says era of distortion of figures of votes cast over

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Electoral Act: IPAC says era of distortion of figures of votes cast over