IPAC Announces Forensic Audit Of Aspirants’ Credentials Before Party Primaries

IPAC Announces Forensic Audit Of Aspirants’ Credentials Before Party Primaries

Concerned about the widespread issue of fake certificates presented by candidates running for various elective offices, which often leads to legal battles and undermines political parties’ victories, political parties under the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) have decided to screen the certificates of aspirants before allowing them to contest elections.

Speaking at a meeting between registered political parties and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), IPAC chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, announced that the council has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN).

This partnership aims to verify and authenticate the certificates of aspirants before they participate in their party primaries.

Danielle said IPAC took the step to restore sanity in the electoral process and effectively detect these fake documents that embarrass political parties and bring the nation’s democracy to disrepute.

He said: “We must do everything possible to renew citizens’ faith in the political process. This is our chance to build an enduring democracy and make Nigeria great again. This starts with a reliable, accurate and updated register of voters.

“It is hoped that all eligible voters were registered for the Edo and Ondo governorship elections. Cleaning up the voter register is at the heart of election integrity. This must be done to inspire public confidence.”

He said further: “Democracy has come to stay in Nigeria. Periodic election is the beauty of constitutional governance as power resides in the people. The Edo State governorship election is 22 days away. On Saturday 21st September 2024, citizens will troop out en masse to vote for candidates of their choice who will pilot the affairs of the state in the next four years.

“As leaders of political parties, this is our chance to restore confidence in the electoral process by ensuring the sanctity of the ballot box and respecting the mandate of the people. After 25 years of uninterrupted democracy in Nigeria, we must get it right this time.”

The IPAC Chairman said the governorship election in Edo State will be a litmus test for the Ondo State governorship election scheduled for Saturday 16th November 2024, which in turn gives direction to future elections in the country.

As the umbrella body of all registered political parties, he said, “IPAC is saddled with the responsibility of consolidating and deepening democracy by ensuring an environment conducive for successful elections, political stability, and peaceful electoral process in the nation.

“Accordingly, the Council urges political parties and their candidates to imbibe issue-based campaigns that will unite the people and foster development and sustainable democracy.

“There is no place for politics of bitterness and violence that has impeded the nation’s hard-earned democracy. It is time to change the narrative. It is time for patriotism. It is time to strengthen, deepen, and advance our democracy. It is a collective task in the quest for a strong, united, progressive, prosperous, equitable, and just democratic society.

“The good people of Edo State are willing to come out en masse and vote for their next governor if the environment is conducive and their votes will count in the overall result. That is where the challenge is, and where IPAC will collaborate with other stakeholders including INEC – the electoral umpire, security agencies, election observers, and the media to ensure that all votes are counted and reflect the wish of the electorate.

“The success of the election will drastically reduce post-election litigations and reinforce trust and confidence in the electoral process, thus, bolstering voter turnout. It will also save the Judiciary from undue intervention and interference in the declaration of the winner of an election.

“To further enhance the nation’s representative governance, political parties should adhere strictly to internal democracy as provided in their respective constitution. We must live and lead by example.

“It is obvious that the failure to comply with parties’ constitutions is the remote cause of crises, leadership disagreements, factionalizations and litigations that have retarded the development of party politics in Nigeria.

“We should be the solution we seek in advancing democracy in the country. It is easy to blame the electoral body, security agencies and the Judiciary when as leaders of political parties we cannot comply with clear provisions of our parties’ constitutions and basic provisions of the electoral act and guidelines.

“It is time to jettison impunity and embrace internal democracy in our activities, particularly in the nomination of candidates for elections”.

He said: “As Nigerians and the international community expect improved elections, we urge INEC to remain neutral as an umpire and ensure its election materials are adequate and ready for the tasks ahead, particularly the BVAS and IReV portals. Certainly, the integrity of INEC is at stake.

“The commission should justify the confidence citizens reposed in it to conduct free, fair, credible, transparent, inclusive and peaceful elections. The success of these elections will rebuild trust in the electoral process and boost voter turnout.

“With good leadership at all levels of government, Nigeria will regain its place as the great arsenal of democracy in Africa. Citizens will once more be proud to be Nigerians.”