…IPAC believes it’s immoral to move a party’s mandate to another party.
AWKA, NIGERIA – The iNews Times | The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has called on voters in Anambra State to reject vote-buying and come out en masse to cast their votes peacefully in the forthcoming governorship election, describing citizens’ participation as both a right and a civic duty.
The National Chairman of IPAC, Dr. Yusuf Dantalle, made the appeal in Awka during a stakeholders’ engagement session aimed at promoting a peaceful, transparent, and inclusive electoral process in the state.
Represented by Mrs. Chinyere Obi Kalu, the Woman Leader of the Zenith Labour Party and National Publicity Secretary of IPAC, Dr. Dantalle reaffirmed the council’s commitment to deepening democratic values, voter education, and civic participation as the foundation for sustainable governance.
“You will recall that only yesterday, key political actors, candidates, and institutions came together to sign a Peace Accord a vital step toward ensuring this electoral process remains peaceful, credible, and reflective of the people’s will,” he stated.
“Today’s engagement builds on that momentum, focusing on voter enlightenment, institutional synergy, and the reaffirmation of our collective responsibility in safeguarding democracy,” he added.
Reiterating IPAC’s stance under its slogan ‘Deepening Democracy in Nigeria,’Dantalle urged citizens to vote according to their convictions rather than inducement or sentiment.
“Vote according to your conviction, conscience, and the credibility of candidates, not inducement or sentiment. Reject vote buying, voter intimidation, and electoral violence. Every vote counts, and your ballot is your power to shape the future of your state,” he declared.
The IPAC Chairman also appealed to political actors to embrace issue-based campaigns and respect the rules of engagement, emphasizing that democracy thrives where leaders demonstrate maturity, tolerance, and sportsmanship.
“Leadership is about service, sacrifice, and stewardship not self-interest,” Dantalle said.
Also speaking at the event, the Director-General of IPAC, Chief Chinedu Obi, urged Ndi Anambra to turn out massively to vote for candidates based on their party’s manifestos and not personal inducement.
He expressed disapproval of political defections, describing them as immoral and a betrayal of the people’s mandate.
“If you vacate your office in the legislature, you lose your seat. That was affirmed just last week when a court sacked a representative for defection. IPAC believes it’s immoral to move a party’s mandate to another party. We’re pushing for legislation to extend this to the executive level,” Obi said.
In her remarks, the governorship candidate of the Action Alliance Congress (AAC), Chioma Grace Ifemeludike, lauded IPAC for fostering dialogue among candidates and stakeholders, describing the engagement as timely and strategic.
According to her, such initiatives not only promote peace but also strengthen democratic culture and stabilize a polity often heated by political campaigns.
