NAN-H-89
Election
Damaturu, Jan. 20, 2017 (NAN) The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Yobe, (IPAC) on Friday lauded the Yobe government for bringing democracy closer to the people by being “consistent in organizing local government council elections”.
Chairman of IPAC in the state, Alhaji Umaru Kukuri, who made the commendation while briefing newsmen in Damaturu, said the council was impressed that in spite of the security challenges, the state government still conducted the council polls regularly.
He said such political will on the part of the government assisted a lot in encouraging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to also follow suit by conducting its own elections during the trying period.
“The 2015 local government council election organized by the state government in spite of security challenges, influenced and encouraged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the 2015 general election in the North east,” he said.
The chairman said seven political parties would participate in the forthcoming council polls in the state scheduled for February 11 and therefore called on the contestants to conduct themselves peacefully.
He listed the parties as the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA), Citizens Popular Party (CPP), Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD), All Progressives Congress (APC), National Conscience Party (NCP) and Mega Progressives Peoples Party (MPPP).
He said although PDP participated in the stakeholder’s forum with SIEC, it did not field any candidate.
According to the chairman the Participating parties have submitted names of their respective candidates after conducting party primaries.
He therefore urged the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) to justify the commitment of the state government to the principles of democracy by conducting credible polls.
“We also want to assure SIEC and security organizations of our support and cooperation towards conducting peaceful and successful election across the state” he said. (NAN)
MM/ASH/ASH