IPAC Calls for Scrapping of State Electoral Bodies, Backs INEC for LG Elections
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Benue State has called for the dissolution of state electoral commissions, advocating for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take full control of local government elections across Nigeria.
IPAC’s State Chairman, Ibrahim Idoko, made the call during a town hall meeting with community stakeholders from Makurdi and Guma Local Government Areas.
The event, organized by SOS Children’s Villages under the EU Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN II) project, provided a platform to review the 2023 general elections and assess the recently conducted local government elections in Benue.
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Idoko highlighted flaws in the electoral process, particularly the concerns raised over result transmission in the 2023 general elections and controversies surrounding the Benue LG polls. He stressed the urgent need for electoral reforms at the grassroots level.
“State electoral bodies should be scrapped, and INEC should oversee local government elections. The current system, where LGAs remain under the control of state governors, stifles development,” Idoko stated. “We must ensure electoral integrity and democratic growth at the grassroots.”
Earlier, David Gabriel of SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria emphasized the importance of strengthening grassroots governance, noting that no society can thrive without a solid foundation at the local level.
The call for INEC’s full control of local government elections has been a longstanding debate, with many stakeholders arguing that state-run electoral bodies often lack transparency and independence.
By PRNigeria
