The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) called for the scrapping of States Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs).
It also kicked against the proposed bill by the Senate to create the so-called Local Government Independent Electoral Commission, saying it is ill conceived.
IPAC Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at the third regular quarterly consultative meeting between INEC and political parties.
He said that to restore confidence in the electoral system, INEC should be empowered to conduct all Local Government elections.
Dantalle stated: “To further deepen democracy at the grassroots level, IPAC demands the immediate scrapping of the States Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs).
“The charade called elections they conduct is an aberration, dent and mockery of our emerging democracy; a waste of tax payers’ money that ought to have been channeled to developmental projects.
“SIECS do not have voter registers, BVAS, IReV portals, ballot boxes and trained personnel to conduct credible elections. The polls they pretend to conduct contribute to voters’ apathy and distrust in the electoral process.
IPAC further called for the amendment of the Constitution and the Electoral Act to empower INEC to conduct all Local Governments polls.
“The Council rejects the proposed bill by the Senate to create the so-called Local Government Independent Electoral Commission, bearing in mind that it would be another SIEC in disguise.
“It is unacceptable, ill-conceived, another electoral jamboree that will impede the nation’s democracy and waste public funds at a time when citizens demand a smaller government to reduce the cost of governance,” it said.
Dantalle said for the Edo State governorship election, the die is cast, saying there is no substitute for free, fair, credible, transparent, inclusive and peaceful poll.
He noted that the success of this election along with Ondo’s will go a long way in restoring trust in the democratic process essential for enduring representative governance.
