IPAC Warns Electorate, Political Parties To Shun Violence, Vote Buying

 

ABEOKUTA - Ahead of the forthcoming general elections in Nigeria, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has called on political parties and electorate in the country to desist from electoral violence or any other syndrome that may compromise the success of the election. 

The IPAC National Chairman, High Chief Peter Ameh who spoke in Abeokuta on Monday during the South West Voters Education and Sensitization Exercise maintained that, fighting the growing obnoxious vote buying/ cash inducement in our electoral system would strengthened Nigeria democracy. 

Chief Ameh who was represented by IPAC National Financial Secretary, Mr.  Olusegun Peters equally called on Nigerians to support other stakeholders towards success of the forthcoming elections and to deepen our democracy through a free and fair credible polls. 

L-R: Ogun IPAC Chairman, Abayomi Arabambi, APM National Chairman, Yusuf Dan Talle, PCP National Chairman, Chief Anthony Harmattan and others at the event.

Chief Ameh said that IPAC as the umbrella body for all registered political parties must work towards ensuring a credible free and fair elections in the country, adding that the body with support from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the political parties leadership are setting guideposts for the activities of political parties to eradicate all facets of electoral malpractices in the country. 

"Thus, strongly rooted and commited to promoting and fostering harmonious Inter-Party relations, violence free elections and fighting the growing obnoxious vote-buying and cash inducement syndrome in our elections, the IPAC roadshow and workshops across all geo-political zones are designed to complement INEC's stellar efforts to conduct very successful elections nationwide, 

"This patriotic programme will highlight IPAC's campaign of championing the eradication of electoral violence and other vestiges of electoral malfeasance and the nefarious vote buying and selling syndrome across the country. This will be another milestone and contribution of IPAC to advancing democracy in Nigeria" he said.

He added that all National Chairmen of political parties have also urged all Nigerian voters to play the game by the rule through the period of eelction and to avoid any form of electoral malpractices and violences.

"The National Chairmen of Political parties hereby heartily appeal to all Nigerian voters to be peaceful, play by the rules, vote for their choice candidates, freely and eschew all forms of violence or intimidation, electoral corruption and anything that may compromise the 2019 general elections" 

Chief Ameh added that the IPAC voters education and sensitisation workshop have successfully impacted governorship election in Anambra, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun States, and there is hope that such can be done for the entire nation in the general elections.

The IPAC National Chairman, also stated that the political ambition of any Nigerian is not worth the blood of any fellow Nigeria, or by extension, the destruction of properties, age long Inter-Party and Inter-Party harmony among Nigerians or the erosion of elementary and primary friendships among Nigerian families.

"So, let us learn and write this in our heart and uphold this doctrine all across Nigeria in the 2019 general elections" he added.

Also present at the event were 15 National Chairmen of Political parties, All State chairmen, secretaries of IPAC in Southwest, all party chairman of all political parties in Ogun State, Representative of INEC and the Police.