IPAC blames parties over withdrawal of Certificates of Return

By Mary Agidi
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Political parties have been blamed for the recent withdrawal of the Certificates of Return from some lawmakers-elect across Nigeria by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, based on Court orders.

The Ondo State Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee, IPAC, Chief Alamuren Ogunbodede said this in an interview with The Hope in reaction to the information disclosed by INEC during an election review meeting with journalists in Enugu that it has withdrawn 25 certificate of return from lawmakers-elect based on Court orders.

According to him, the problem that led to the court order emanated from the party primaries which was not conducted as stipulated by the party’s constitution.

Commenting on the position of INEC that more than 20 of these certificates were withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress Party’s candidates, the IPAC Chairman said, ” I believe in APC constitution about how to go about their primary.

” But the constitution still gives room for amendment and that is where they come about direct and indirect primary which is why they are having this problem. As a political party, I believe they will get over it”.

On what effort IPAC is making to help curb vote buying in Nigeria, Ogunbodede assured of the readiness of the committee to collaborate with INEC for better performance in the nearest future elections.

He noted that the fight against votes buying entails round table discussion with politicians, saying it is not what INEC can tackle alone.