IPAC to INEC: Act with caution on ADC leadership crisis, voter revalidation
The umbrella body of political parties in the country, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to act cautiously regarding the leadership crisis within
- By Tony Akowe, Abuja
The umbrella body of political parties in the country, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to act cautiously regarding the leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC)
IPAC said the current handling of the ADC leadership crisis is capable of setting a troubling precedent and undermining confidence in the neutrality of the electoral umpire, adding that INEC must act with restraint, fairness, and strict adherence to due process in resolving intra-party issues.
In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Egbeola Wale Martins, IPAC also cautioned against the timing of the nationwide voter revalidation exercise planned by the commission.
INEC had said it would carry out a revalidation exercise to clean up the voter register ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It said the timing of the exercise will put further stress on political parties already burdened by the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 elections.
The statement read, “The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) expresses deep concern over recent developments in Nigeria’s political and security landscape, particularly the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) proposed nationwide voter revalidation exercise, the handling of the leadership situation within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the persistent killings in Plateau State.
“IPAC acknowledges that periodic updates of the voter register are vital to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy. However, the timing of the proposed nationwide voter revalidation exercise raises serious concerns.
“At a period when critical stakeholders, especially political parties are already burdened with numerous obligations arising from the new Electoral Act, including ongoing nationwide membership registration with mandatory NIN verification within a limited timeframe, party primaries, as well as verification and compliance assessments to be carried out by INEC, introducing an additional nationwide exercise without broad consultation, particularly with political parties and adequate preparation risks disenfranchising millions of eligible voters.
“We therefore urge INEC to reconsider the timing of the exercise to prevent an overly congested electoral environment that may ultimately exclude, rather than include, more citizens in the democratic process.
“Furthermore, IPAC calls on INEC to exercise caution in handling the leadership dispute within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“In cases of internal party disagreements, it must be clearly understood that leadership structures, even when contested, do not amount to a vacuum.
“The reported removal of the names of Distinguished Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from INEC’s official portal appears premature and capable of creating avoidable instability within the polity.
“If not carefully managed, such actions may set a troubling precedent and undermine confidence in the electoral umpire's neutrality. IPAC therefore urges INEC to act with restraint, fairness, and strict adherence to due process in resolving intra-party issues.
“IPAC also strongly condemns the continued killings in Plateau State. These senseless acts of violence are unacceptable and pose a serious threat to national unity and security.
“The Council calls on the Federal Government and relevant security agencies to take urgent, decisive, and sustained action to halt the violence, safeguard lives and property, and restore peace to affected communities. It is imperative that the perpetrators of these heinous crimes, along with their sponsors, are swiftly apprehended and brought to justice.
“Nigeria’s democracy can only thrive in an environment where electoral processes are transparent, political institutions are stable, and citizens feel safe and protected’.
