Kogi LG Polls: Stop Recycling Those Who Have Lost Credibility, IPAC Appeals To APC

 The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Kogi state chapter, has called to the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) to conduct a free, fair and credible local government election for posterity sake.

 This was contained in a press statement issued in Lokoja on Wednesday by the IPAC Chairman, Hon. Ilyas Badanga. IPAC appealed to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) to stop re-cycling all those saddled with the responsibility of administering our local government for the past 5 years. 

According to Badanga, some of these recycled council helmsmen have overstayed their usefulness and have lost credibility in their respective local government areas. 

“When the process is participatory, devoid of interference, credible candidates will emerge naturally that is acceptable to the generality of the electorate,” he said.

 He also called on all registered political parties participating in the forthcoming local government election in Kogi State to adhere to the tenets of party rules and regulations as entrenched in the respective political party constitution. 

He also urged them to observe internal democratic values of political parties to reflect in the conduct of their primaries in the process of selecting candidates based on free, fair and acceptable primaries. 

“The emergence of credible candidates breeds credible dividends of democracy in the third tier of government.

 It is on this note that we appeal to all political party chairmen and leaders to avoid impunity of imposition of candidates which is against the internal democratic values of our political parties.

 “All political parties are expected to operate an open-door policy for all aspirants interested in participating in the local government election for the electorate to choose a candidate of their choice. 

By so doing, credible candidates will emerge in a participatory exercise, especially that this third tier of government is closer to the people. 

 “Any form of godfatherism, nepotism, consensus, or any nomenclature used to adopt candidate is anti – democratic process and tantamount to the will and interest of the masses,” he added. 

The group also appealed to political parties to make nomination and intent form fees flexible for credible aspirants to participate in the process.