Kaduna: IPAC debunks plot to undermine govt

The Inter Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC) Kaduna state and eight political parties that attended the just concluded African Democratic Congress (ADC) Democracy Summit #Kaduna 2024 have disclosed that they never discussed anything like undermining any government, either in Kaduna state or elsewhere in Nigeria.

The IPAC Chairman in the State, Hon Ahmed Tijani Mustapha, stated this in a statement made available to the media in Kaduna on Wednesday.

Hon Mustapha, who was reacting to a media publication that Summit #Kaduna 2024 main objective was to wrestle power from the ruling party, said the assumption was the figment of the writer’s imagination. 

According to him, the Summit brought together eight opposition parties with the aim of bolstering opposition party structures and strategies ahead of the 2027 general elections. 

He added that the summit also discussed challenges faced by Nigerians and fostering informed decision-making ahead of the elections. 

He said, “While dispelling merger speculations, the summit also criticised the current administration for exacerbating national challenges rather than mitigating them. 

“We also re-emphasise the necessity of mobilising grassroots support and fostering political enlightenment among citizens. 

“The importance of effective voter mobilisation and the selection of credible candidates was given much emphasis during the summit. Financial resource constraints, lack of internal democracy, and interference by the ruling party as key challenges facing opposition groups were also discussed.

“Internal democracy, accountability, transparency, and diverse means of holding the government accountable were also highlighted. Special emphasis on the role of opposition parties in ensuring governmental responsibility and delivery of democratic dividends was also deliberated. 

“Democratic accountability, transparency in ensuring governmental responsibility, and delivery of democratic dividends to be entrenched were also brought to light. The autonomy of Local Government Councils was also discussed 

“I on my part, personally as chairman of ADC and IPAC Kaduna State, addressed the Press where I clarified that the summit was aimed to address socio-economic and political challenges, offering pragmatic solutions to support good governance.

“The importance of effective voter mobilisation and the selection of credible candidates, I also re-emphasised the importance of early engagement and citizen involvement in the electoral process. 

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“I also reiterated that the summit was not aimed at any political merger or coalition formation but rather to foster dialogue and collaboration among all political parties in addressing our common issues effectively,” he said 

“We also re-emphasise the necessity of mobilising grassroots support and fostering political enlightenment among citizens. The importance of effective voter mobilisation and the selection of credible candidates was given much emphasis during the summit.”

“Financial resources constraints, lack of internal democracy, and interference by the ruling party as key challenges facing opposition parties were also discussed. Parties were tasked with Internal democracy, accountability, and transparency, and parties were advised against moneybags that would come into our parties and use the party platform to win elections thereafter causing a crisis in the party.

 “Again parties were advised to look at their party constitution to avoid situations where Ward level of the party can wake up after being influenced to issue a suspension to a National Chairman of a party. Special emphasis on the role of opposition parties in ensuring governmental responsibility and delivery of democratic dividends was also deliberated. 

“Also, IPAC is moving for the introduction of party registration where a platform will be provided with all the parties available. A Nigerian can register in any party of his choice wherever he is and the entrenchment of electronic voting system that will allow a citizen to vote for the candidate he wants at the comfort of his room so that incidence of using money to influence voters decision will be eliminated.”

“Autonomy of Local Government Councils was also discussed where it was suggested that State Assemblies should do the needful by endorsing what the National Assembly has done in passing the Local Governments Autonomy Act so that local councils can be able to provide democratic dividends to their people and reducing over-reliance on State & Federal government.

“The summit re-emphasized the importance of early engagement and citizen involvement in the electoral process. I also reiterated that the summit was not aimed at any political merger or coalition formation but rather at fostering dialogue and collaboration among all political parties in addressing our common issues effectively.”

“Democracy is our baby, we cannot afford to allow it to be truncated as most of us fought for this democracy where lives, freedoms & property were lost. We believe in democracy and we support any government that won its election after all due processes were concluded we have no reason to organise or support any sabotage to any government.”