IPAC backs INEC on dates for 2019 elections

REGISTERED political parties, on Tuesday, expressed their support for the initiative of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in fixing dates ahead 2019 general election.
Addressing newsmen last Thursday, in Abuja, INEC National Commissioner (in charge of South-West), Solomon Soyebi, had disclosed that the 2019 presidential and National Assembly elections would hold on February 19, 2019.

He equally unveiled Saturday, March 2, 2019, as the date for governorship/state assembly/Federal Capital Territory area council elections.

Soyebi further noted that the commission arrived at the dates in line with its commitment at ensuring certainty regarding timetable for general election in the country.

Dr Onwubuya Breakforth, the National Deputy Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), made the declaration in support of INEC initiative on Tuesday, in Abuja while reading a communiqué jointly issued by INEC and political parties at the end of the commission’s quarterly meeting with registered parties.

Speaking with newsmen before the commencement of the meeting, chairman of IPAC, Mohammed Nalado, said they were taken aback that the commission could take such a sensitive decision without proper consultations.

Nalado admitted that the INEC chairman informed them of the decision, but noted that there was no official correspondence until they read the report on the pages of newspapers.

“We had meeting with INEC chairman. Unfortunately, we did not understand him whether he was telling us officially or he was just giving us information on how our elections should be done.

“I hope this issue will be discussed thoroughly here,” Nalado said.

National Chairman of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Mr Godson Okoye, spoke in the same vein, as he declared that it was a mark of disdain for INEC to fix date for elections without consulting them.

“We are surprised that dates were fixed for elections that would take place in two years time. I think if that is the official position of INEC, the position of UDP is that it marks some disrespect for political parties from INEC.

“It is a disrespect on the part of INEC not to consult political parties that would fill in candidates for the elections,” Okoye said.

But addressing newsmen shortly after the end of the closed-door session with the commission, deputy chairman of IPAC, Breakforth said the political parties, after proper deliberation, believed that the initiative would ensure certainty in the country’s election calendar and allow for proper planning by all stakeholders.

He said it was also agreed that the dates fixed by INEC were within the period stipulated by INEC for the elections.

“We also welcome the assurance by INEC to commence the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in April 2017 at local government level.

“IPAC also pledged to fully support the commission in the registration of new voters and create further public awareness in the distribution of uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

“As a step in this direction, the meeting agreed that uncollected PVCs should be distributed simultaneously with the nationwide CVR,” Breakforth said.

He further admonished INEC to further deepen the use of technology in the elections and work with the National Assembly to remove all legal encumbrances to full deployment of Information and Communication Technology in all future elections.

IPAC expressed concern on outstanding Anambra Central Senatorial rerun election, and further appealed to INEC to liaise with concerned political parties to resolve ongoing litigation for the conduct of the election.

“In view of the recent Supreme Court judgment on the election, it was agreed that INEC shall work with the political parties that have cases in the lower court to find amicable ways to resolve all going litigations out of court.

“This is to enable the commission conduct the outstanding election in the senatorial district.

“INEC shall engage with the parties involved based on this principle,” he said.

Breakforth stated that all political parties in the meeting also enewed their commitments to internal party democracy while affirming their commitment to eschew violence in elections.

He said that the council commended INEC’s effort to prosecute electoral offenders.

“It was also resolved that this should be expanded to include all violators of all the Electoral Act, no matter how highly placed,” Breakforth said.

The Director of INEC Voter Education and Publicity, Mr Oluwole Osase-Uzzi said that the commission had accepted to explore out of court solution to the Anambra election.

“INEC is prepare to conduct the election as soon as all legal impediments are removed,” Osase-Uzzi added.

Asked for response on the fate of the newly announced dates for the 2019 general elections if the ongoing Electoral Act amendments was concluded before the election, Osase-Uzzi said the commission was working with instant law.

“We are working with an extant law and the time for election is fixed by the constitution.

“So, if the constitution is amended before 2019 or that day and it necessitate the change, then we comply with whatever extant law that is available before the election.

“But if it is not amended before then we go with the date as it stands now. INEC is bound to go with whatever the law states,” Osase-Uzzi said.

Addressing the gathering of chieftains of political parties, Professor Yakubu said numbers of political associations seeking registration as political parties ahead of the 2019 general elections now stood at 86.

“As at Monday, the number of applications for registration of new associations as political parties now stands as 86, so far,” Yakubu said.

The INEC chairman who described political parties as important vehicles in the management of the country’s democracy, also congratulated the ten political parties recently re-registered after they were earlier deregistered by the commission, after the 2015 general elections.

The political parties according to him were Better Nigeria Peoples Parties (BNPP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Peoples Progressives Party (PPP), Democratic Alternative (DA), National Action Council (NAC) and National Democratic Liberty Party (NDLP). The list also include, Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN), National Conscience Party (NCP), Nigeria Element Progressives Party (NEPP) and the National Unity Party (NUP).

“The names of these political parties have already been uploaded on our website. But, I will like to appeal o those of them, out of the ten that are yet to open their offices to do so and immediately notify the commission.’’