IPAC commends Gov. Nwifuru for approving fund to enable EBSIEC conduct free, fair LG polls in Ebonyi

By Uchenna Okeh, Abakaliki

The inter-party advisory council, IPAC, Ebonyi state chapter on Monday applauded governor Francis Nwifuru for approving over (#518,260,000) to enable the Ebonyi State Independent electoral commission, EBSIEC, to conduct a free, fair and credible election in the state.

The forthcoming local government election is scheduled to hold 20th July, ,2024, in the 13 LGAs and 171 wards in the state.

The state chairman of IPAC, Nasir Ernest Nwaze made this known while speaking with newsmen, shortly after in a meeting with the chairmen of all political parties in the state, held at the IPAC office located at opposite Pa Ngele Oruta township stadium Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State.

He said: “We called for the general meeting of IPAC and you can see the members are here. We just resolved ways to go for the upcoming election in 13 local government areas and 171 political wards in Ebonyi State. We first of all, analyzed the conduct of the election in Ebonyi State. After the analysis, we concluded that we are satisfied with the processes followed for the preparation of the election.

“We are also very happy, we heard of the money approved for the election by the governor, and he has also released the money for the exercise. That means he is living up to his promise. One, let EBSIEC to be independent, to conduct the election free, fair and credible.

“We considered how EBSIEC has been piloting the activities marking the election, and it has been carrying every political party along. We scored EBSIEC above 80 per cent, and with that we say the state electoral umpire has been performing well, and we are satisfied.

Nwaze noted further that:”We resolved we are going to participate in the election. All parties are participating the election without a dissenting voice. All parties are going to participate fully in the exercise as EBSIEC and state government have provided enable environment.

“The general public should ignore those people making such comment because they are not the members of Labour Party according to the Labour Party Chairman in the state.

“To ensure transparency during the election, we did analysis and asked EBSIEC to keep abreast with the parties on the day to day activities for the forthcoming election.

“Only challenges we have is the administrative charges because election is not all about money bags but allow every political party to participate in the election for the best candidate to emerge and serve the masses. To my members, let’s understand change begins with you” he stated.

Responding, the special assistant to the governor of Ebonyi State on inter-party affairs, Sunday Nwambam said: “We have opposition political parties and that’s why they have 13 opposition political parties, indicating interest to participate in the forthcoming Local Government elevation in Ebonyi State.When we asked them, do you know you are supporting the present government, they said, even if we contest and fail, that means, we have satisfied ourselves.

“That the governor is doing well, and we are united. And government has assured them of a conducive environment for them to participate in the election. There’s no crisis in the IPAC. This is the part of the activities in uniting the members of IPAC.

“You can see how we exchange pleasantries, because we are united, we don’t have problem. This coming election, the parties said that they are contesting and as a government, we can’t stop any political parties from participating in the election, rather we provide a level playing field for them to participate” he stressed.