2019 Polls: APC Tasks IPAC On Participatory Democracy

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, Politics Monday, September 26th, 2016

By Ignatius Okpara

ENUGU, NIGERIA (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Enugu State chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has challenged the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC in the area, to initiate moves towards raising the bar of participatory democracy in the State.

The State Party Chairman Dr. Ben Nwoye, Chairman gave the challenge last weekend why speaking with newsmen at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Enugu, venue for the state IPAC election.

He posited that there was need for an aggressive sensitization of the people ahead of the 2019 general polls.

Nwoye, urged the new IPAC leadership in the state to remain neutral in the discharge of their duties, saying “it would not be in the interest of democracy if the body derails from its mandate.”

The Enugu APC boss said: “what the IPAC should do is to promote the democratic process in Enugu State”.

According to him, “the group does not belong to any political party, even the ruling party in this State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is a member.

“It also not their duty to oppose government; their job is to ensure that there is peaceful conduct of election and that the electorates take part in the process.

“I urge the new IPAC leadership not to get involved in advancing one party or the other.

“Each member of the IPAC belongs to one party or the other; so they can only oppose views individually not in the name of the group.”

While calling on the ruling PDP to allow for a participatory democracy in the State Nwoye, added that “it is not in the interest of ‎the ruling party to suppress opposition; if it does that, it becomes autocratic.”

In a brief remark, the newly elected Chairman of the state IPAC, Comrade John Nwobodo ruled out the possibility of the PDP hijacking the group.

He insisted that “such thing is not possible because the PDP is just one of the members of IPAC.

His words: “We are going to promote inter-party cooperation, inter-party dialogue and promote the ideas that will move the State forward.” Nwobodo promised.