IPAC CALLS ON THE AUTONOMY OF LOCAL GOVT. COUNCIL IN NIGERIA

By Gambo Abubakar Kaduna

  The National Chairman Inter Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC), and also the National Chairman, Allied Peoples Movement, (APM), Yusuf M Dantalle, has called  for the autonomy of Local Governments in Nigeria as the third tier of government closest to the people.

  "Its evident that politics is local. Citizens should encouraged to participate actively in grassroots politics. It is one way of deepening democracy in Nigeria."

 The IPAC Chairman stated during the Summit, organised by African Democratic Congress (ADC). which recently held in Kaduna.

  According to the Dantalle "IPAC demands the scrapping of the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC). The enormous powers and influence of State Governors affect the independent status of this commissions nationwide. 

   He also noted that, " IPAC will present its comprehensive Constitution and Electoral Act Amendments proposal to the National Assembly for consideration and inclusion in the ongoing review of law.

  "IPAC vision is to consolidate and deepen democracy by ensuring an environment conducive for successful elections, political stability and peaceful electoral process in Nigeria."

  "IPAC have further demands for the establishment of the Electoral Offences Commission to prosecute electoral offenders that serve as deterrent to others who may consider such heinous crimes against the fatherland."

 In his addressed the Chairman of the Summit, also the former national Chairman IPAC, Mohammed Lawal Nalado, has debunked the rumoured that, they organised the Summit to form a bigger party,.

  "We are not here to form a single political party or against the sitting government, we rather here to discussed and solve the problems."

  The former IPAC Chairman, however revealed that, all the political parties has the problems in Nigeria most especially, the opposition parties, we are the once produced a candidate, after won the election, they run away (decamp) and joined the bigger party.

 Also addressed in the Summit, the National Chairman of Peoples Redumption Party, Mallam Falalu Bello, said "a political party are not just an organisation to builds the candidates for elections process, it's also an essential instrument of democracy.

 "A political party provide the framework work for the citizens to articulation their aspirations, mobilised support and hold those power for accountability."

 The PRP Chairman also commended the citizensADC party for organising the Summit, theme; "Solid political party Structure Critical to the Sustainability of the Democratic process,"described as not only topically but timely.

   In his remarks, Ambassador Shehu Mai Lafiya Bamalli, Barden Zazzau, representing the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmad Nuhi Bamalli, saluted the ADC national working committee for hosting the event in Kaduna.

 "I'm happy that the Summit is organised in Kaduna may A mighty Allah guide for successful deliberations."

 Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman, African Democratic Congress (ADC) also Chairman Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Kaduna state, Honourable Tijjani Mustafa, expressed his appreciation with the participation of various representations of political parties.

 And the representative of our royal father, the Emir of Zazzau, by Barden Zazzau. who blessed the event, "i sincery saluted the ADC National Working Committee,as well as the as our  fellows ADC member's, for their massses turnout in honoured our invitation.

 He further charged the friendly parties to sustained the gesture, and hope the Summit would serve as forum that improve coherance and created synergy between the opposition parties in order to have one voice, for the development of democracy and the country at large.