The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has cautioned politicians in Rivers State who have continued to use conflicting judgments from the court to frustrate the upcoming October 5th Rivers state Local Government election.
The IPAC National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle while addressing journalists on Thursday at the Council’s headquarters in Abuja, said elections cannot be stopped by judicial fiat in favour of political actors, jobbers and hirelings in pursuit of their inordinate ambitions.
Dantalle regretted that there have been conflicting court orders in support and against the local Government election in the State and forum shopping by desperate politicians to procure court orders that will subvert the nation’s democracy.
“If this dangerous precedence is allowed, be assured that there will be no more elections in Nigeria as failed politicians masquerading as democrats will approach the court to procure orders to stop elections they are not prepared for.
“This must not be allowed to happen again after the June 12, 1993 presidential election impasse”, he said.
The IPAC National Chairman further stated that the Council will not fold its hands and allow political merchants to trade away the nation’s hard-earned democracy using the judiciary as a cover.
He said by issuing conflicting orders and judgments, the judiciary has become a tool in hands of powerful individuals to undermine our emerging constitutional rule.
“The Rivers State Local Government election presents another opportunity for the Judiciary to purge itself of political influence and justify the confidence Nigerians reposed in it.
“This is why IPAC calls on the new Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman National Judicial Council to thoroughly investigate and sanction erring Judicial Officers.
“This will go a long way to redeem the battered image of the Judiciary in its handling of political matters, particularly elections at all levels. It is time for Nigerians to stand on the side of sustainable democracy.
“It is time to deepen democracy at Local Government level. Therefore, political Parties in Nigeria will participate in the Rivers State Local Government election on Saturday 5th October 2024”, Dantalle noted.
While noting that local Government elections must be supported and encouraged by all lovers of representative governance in Nigeria, he said “it is on this note that IPAC backs the Rivers State local government election and all other elections across the country.
“Accordingly, IPAC calls on the good people of Rivers State to turn up en masse this Saturday and vote for candidates of their choice. Again, Council urges the Inspector-General of Police and relevant security agencies to provide adequate security for the smooth conduct of the Local Government election in the State.
“It is time for stakeholders to demonstrate patriotism. It is time to for all stakeholders and lovers of democracy to demonstrate that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria.
“We will keep watering the tree of democracy and deepening its roots to yield its fruits to the long-suffering compatriots who desire and deserve dividends of democracy to cushion the effect of economic hardship the country is facing today,” the IPAC National Chairman added.
