The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rescind its decision on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership crisis.

Speaking in a statement, IPAC National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Egbeola Wale Martins, said not reversing its decision could lead to a credibility crisis for INEC ahead of the 2027 elections.

IPAC also raised concerns over the timing of the proposed nationwide voter revalidation exercise while condemning the recent killings in Plateau State.

“The reported removal of the names of Distinguished Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from INEC’s official portal appears premature and capable of creating avoidable instability within the polity.

“If not carefully managed, such actions may set a troubling precedent and undermine confidence in the neutrality of the electoral umpire.

“In cases of internal party disagreements, it must be clearly understood that leadership structures, even when contested, do not amount to a vacuum,” the body stated.

Addressing the voter revalidation exercise, IPAC said, “The timing of the proposed Nationwide Voter Revalidation Exercise raises serious concerns.

“At a period when critical stakeholders, especially political parties, are already burdened with numerous obligations arising from the new Electoral Act, including ongoing nationwide membership registration with mandatory NIN verification within a limited timeframe, party primaries, as well as Verification and Compliance Assessments to be carried out by INEC, introducing an additional nationwide exercise without broad consultation, particularly with political parties and adequate preparation risks disenfranchising millions of eligible voters.

“We therefore urge INEC to reconsider the timing of the exercise to prevent an overly congested electoral environment that may ultimately exclude, rather than include, more citizens in the democratic process.”

On the Plateau killings, IPAC called them senseless and a direct threat to national unity.

“These senseless acts of violence are unacceptable and pose a serious threat to national unity and security.

“It is imperative that the perpetrators of these heinous crimes, along with their sponsors, are swiftly apprehended and brought to justice.” (The Sun)

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