Afimag.com –
The Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to accept the EU Election Observation Mission report in good faith.
IPAC also urged the electoral body to consider the recommendations with a view to proposing changes in the electoral legal framework.
IPAC Chairman, Alhaji Yagbagi Sani who disclosed this in Abuja, said Committee set up by IPAC to review the EU report on 2023 General Election in the country.
He noted that the body should look into implementing the recommendations would strengthen the electoral process and consolidate the nation’s democracy.
Alhaji Sani urged all aggrieved candidates who had already filed cases at the various Election Petition Tribunals to patiently await the verdict of the Tribunal.
IPAC Chairman advised President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to continue to support INEC in the efficient deployment of technology in future elections to reduce post-election disagreements and litigations.
‘’In terms of constitutional reform, we have improved tremendously, as Section 65 of the Electoral Act, 2022 which gave the Commission the powers to review any declaration by a returning officer where such a return was not made voluntarily or made contrary to the provisions of the law”
“Such as was effectively exercised in Adamawa, Abia, Kano and Enugu States. This is a major leap from the past where a declaration by a returning officer is final and can only be challenged in the Tribunal’’
Speaking on access to election results in real-time, Alhaji Sani commended INEC for the introduction of IREV which he said promotes credibility as citizens were able to view results from polling Units in real time thereby interrogate, confirm and validate election outcomes.
The EU/EOM made 23 recommendations with emphasis on six priority areas which included Removal of ambiguities in the law and establishment of a publicly accountable selection process for INEC Commissioners.
