By Omoyeni Ojeifo
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has expressed solidarity with political parties affected by recent court rulings, insisting that the protection of multiparty democracy remains a national priority.
Alhaji Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, who serves as both National Chairman of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), addressed his concerns in an interview on Channels TV, monitored by Persecondnews on Tuesday night.
He said IPAC remains committed to strengthening democratic practice and ensuring that no registered political party is unfairly shut out of the electoral process.
“Elections are a process, not an event. The current provisions of the Electoral Act have made it difficult for many Nigerians who aspire to elective offices to participate in the process,”he said.
He insisted that political parties must be allowed to operate on a level playing field. Democracy is about the people, leadership, representation, inclusion, fairness and competition.”
“Nigerians should be allowed to choose their leaders democratically. We should not introduce actions that exclude some parties or limit political participation,”he said.
Dantalle criticised attempts to deregister parties that are already participating in elections.
He noted that INEC had already confirmed the affected parties met the requirements to remain registered, saying the move to deregister them is unacceptable.
He added that frequent changes in electoral procedures and interpretations of electoral laws have continued to place unnecessary pressure on political parties, especially ahead of major elections.
“A comprehensive review of the Electoral Act is needed to address gaps that may be limiting participation, with reforms focused on inclusivity, fairness and practical implementation, ” he stressed.
Dantalle urged lawmakers and stakeholders to ensure that electoral laws are not only legally sound but also realistic enough to support Nigeria’s democratic growth.