By Chidi Roberts
Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), the umbrella body of all the registered political parties in the country, says there is no going back on the October 5, Local Government Elections in Rivers State.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, the National Chairman of IPAC, Mr Yusuf Mamman, said that parties and candidates had submitted all necessary documents and were ready for the polls.
He said IPAC was solidly behind the election and it remains committed in deepening democracy and upholding democratic values, ethos, ethics and ideas in the quest for a better society.
“The Rivers State Independence Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has scheduled to conduct Local Government elections in the state on Saturday, October 5, in all the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.
“Political parties have since submitted their nomination forms and complied with the guidelines and regulations for the conduct of the election and assured it would be free, fair, credible, transparent, peaceful and inclusive.
“Be assured that political parties and their candidates for the positions of Chairman, deputy chairman, and councillor have prepared and are ready to participate in the election as scheduled.
“There is no going back in this critical exercise that will further deepen the nation’s democracy at the grassroots level,” he said.
Mamman said that IPAC would continue to strive to build an endurable democracy, strengthen democratic institutions, create an environment conducive for the conduct of credible elections.
He said that the body would work to ensure political stability and Judicial reforms as court orders and judgements have far reaching implications and consequences for the survival of democracy in Nigeria.
Mamman said that election is the beauty of democracy, particularly at the third tier of government, which is nearest to the people.
The chairman said that Local Government elections must be supported and encouraged by all lovers of representative governance in Nigeria.
“It is on this note that IPAC backs the Rivers State local government election and all other elections across the country,” he said.
Mamman frowned at some political actors seeking court judgement to stop the elections, saying that it will lead to a repeat of the dark days that led to the events of June 12, 1993.
He said as a major stakeholder in the democratic process, IPAC would not fold its hands and allow political merchants to trade away the nation’s hard-earned democracy using the judiciary as a cover.
“By issuing conflicting orders and judgements, the judiciary has become a tool in hands of powerful individuals to undermine our emerging constitutional rule.
“The integrity of the judiciary is at stake as the temple of justice and bastion of democracy,” he said.
