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LequteMan
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F.C.T.- The Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC), an association of all registered political parties in Nigeria, on Wednesday in Abuja, disagreed with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the sequence of the 2015 general elections timetable.
The Chairman of IPAC, Dr Yunusa Tanko explained that the new arrangement which placed the presidential and national assembly elections first followed by governorship and state assembly elections had raised some apprehension in some quarters.
“It is obvious that if presidential election takes place first, it will sweep the direction of the whole elections toward one angle.
“With the level of apprehension already in the country, it could have been better for us to have the governorship and the state assembly elections before presidential election.
“This will go a long way to reduce the level of tension in the country,`` Tanko said.
He said if INEC start 2015 elections with the governorship election, it could give opportunity for all political parties to have a chance of winning elections.
According Tanko, many political parties are still insisting that elections should be conducted in one day to guard against any form of manipulation.
He said that political parties were the owners of the electoral process and if parties have an issue the whole electoral body has an issue, ``let no anybody be in doubt’’.
The Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said that INEC was aware of the various commentaries that had trailed the unveiling of the timetable for the general elections.
Represented by the Commission’s National Commissioner, Mrs Thelma Iremiren, Jega said that the early release of the timetable would help political actors and security agencies to ensure timely preparation for the elections.
“Election is a serious business, measures put in place by the Commission to release and commence activities are designed to avoid the pitfalls of the past,” he said.
The Chairman of IPAC, Dr Yunusa Tanko explained that the new arrangement which placed the presidential and national assembly elections first followed by governorship and state assembly elections had raised some apprehension in some quarters.
“It is obvious that if presidential election takes place first, it will sweep the direction of the whole elections toward one angle.
“With the level of apprehension already in the country, it could have been better for us to have the governorship and the state assembly elections before presidential election.
“This will go a long way to reduce the level of tension in the country,`` Tanko said.
He said if INEC start 2015 elections with the governorship election, it could give opportunity for all political parties to have a chance of winning elections.
According Tanko, many political parties are still insisting that elections should be conducted in one day to guard against any form of manipulation.
He said that political parties were the owners of the electoral process and if parties have an issue the whole electoral body has an issue, ``let no anybody be in doubt’’.
The Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said that INEC was aware of the various commentaries that had trailed the unveiling of the timetable for the general elections.
Represented by the Commission’s National Commissioner, Mrs Thelma Iremiren, Jega said that the early release of the timetable would help political actors and security agencies to ensure timely preparation for the elections.
“Election is a serious business, measures put in place by the Commission to release and commence activities are designed to avoid the pitfalls of the past,” he said.
