17th September, 2014
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in conjunction with the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) has set up a seven-man committee to promote dialogue among political parties in Enugu state.
The Head of the Electoral Committee of IPAC, Sen. Tunde Anifowose, said at the inauguration in Enugu on Tuesday that the committee was the first of its kind in the state.
According to him, the council is saddled with the responsibility of advising and proffering solution through effective research findings.
He said that IPAC, which was an offshoot of the Conference of Political Parties (CNPP), was the only council currently relating with the INEC on political party matters.
He said the aim of the council was to promote interparty dialogue among all registered political parties with a view to ensuring a violence free, fair, credible and transparent electoral process in the country.
“This is a landmark achievement. We were mandated by the national body to inaugurate the council in states ahead of the 2015 elections.
“IPAC was approved by the electoral laws. We are in another phase of democracy.
“We are not a tool for torment or abuse to the government rather we advise and proffer solution to the government in power,” Anifowose said.
He said that the council executives in the state would later set up similar committees at the ward and local government levels.
Anifowose, who is also the National Chairman of Action Alliance (AA), said the election was conducted simultaneously in the five states of the South-East zone with the aim of sustaining democracy in the country.
In his remarks, the Administrative Secretary of INEC, Mr Irokwe Okorie, charged members of the council to work with the commission in order to achieve positive results in the state.
Okorie said that INEC in the state was ready to partner with the committee in making positive changes in the electoral process ahead of the 2015 elections and beyond.
Some of the elected officers of the council, who spoke to NAN, pledged their commitment toward ensuring an inclusive government in the council.
The state Chairman of the Citizens Popular Party (CPP), Mr Afam Ani, emerged as the Chairman of the committee while the Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Okey Eze, is the Public Relations Officer of the council.
The others were Mrs Ifeoma Udeze of the Mega Progressives Peoples Party (MPPP) as the Deputy Chairman and Mr Festus Ogbonna of the United Democratic Party as the General Secretary.
NAN reports that 21 political parties in the state participated in the elections which was done by secret ballot.
IPAC was established in 2013 and empowered to liaise with INEC in strengthening inter and intra-political dialogue.