The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has urged Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strictly adhere to the official constitutions of political parties when resolving internal leadership crises. The council, an umbrella body for registered political parties, stated that this approach is essential for INEC to determine and publicly declare which leadership it officially recognizes, thereby conferring legitimacy and ensuring fair engagement.
IPAC made this declaration through its National Chairman, Dr. Yusuf Dantalle, during the INEC Consultative Meeting with political party leaders in Abuja on Thursday. The council emphasized that INEC must publish its recognized party leaderships on its website to eliminate ambiguity and public suspicions of bias or interference in intra-party affairs.
The advisory body linked this directive to broader expectations for credible elections. IPAC reminded INEC of its mandate to remain independent, neutral, fair, and decisive in conducting polls that are free, fair, credible, transparent, and inclusive. “Its integrity is tested each time citizens go to the polls,” the council noted, stressing that a level playing field for all parties and candidates is non-negotiable.
IPAC argued that strict constitutional compliance would reduce the frequent litigation that disrupts party operations, hinders candidate nominations, and creates uncertainty about parties’ viability. Such instability, it warned, is detrimental to sustainable democracy and national development.
In parallel, IPAC advised political party leaders to exhaust their own internal alternative dispute resolution mechanisms before resorting to the courts. This recommendation aligns with repeated Supreme Court rulings affirming that Nigerian courts lack jurisdiction over internal party leadership disputes.
The council also called on all parties to robustly uphold internal democracy, strictly follow their constitutions for candidate nominations and leadership changes, and reject candidate imposition or unlawful tenure elongation. “As party leaders, we must lead by example and uphold democratic values, ethics, and principles,” Dr. Dantalle stated.
Furthermore, IPAC appealed to the National Assembly to expedite the harmonization of the electoral legal framework ahead of the next general election. With Nigeria approaching its eighth national election under INEC’s supervision, the council stressed that citizens demand an improved framework that restores trust, ensures every vote counts, and protects the sanctity of the ballot.
“After 27 years of uninterrupted democratic governance, there should be no excuse for elections that fall short of credibility, transparency, and public acceptability,” the council concluded, urging collective commitment to a credible democratic process.
