WELCOME REMARKS BY DR. YUSUF MAMMAN DANTALLE, NATIONAL CHAIRMAN, INTER PARTY ADVISORY COUNCIL (IPAC) AT ECOWAS NETWORK OF ELECTORAL COMMISSIONS (ECONEC) POST-ELECTION FOLLOW-UP/NEEDS ASSESSMENT MISSION TO NIGERIA, IPAC NATIONAL SECRETARIAT, ABUJA, ON THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2025
Protocol
It is my rare privilege to on behalf of the Council and General Assembly of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), welcome the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) Post-Election Follow-up/Needs Assessment Mission to Nigeria to assess the extent of implementation of the recommendations made by the ECOWAS and African Union Election Observation Missions to the 2023 General Election.
The mission, we are informed, is to assess the extent of the implementation of the recommendations made by the ECOWAS and the Africa Union Election Observation Missions to the 2023 General Election, identify possible areas of support for the implementation of these recommendations and assess the legal and operational aspects towards the 2027 General Election to identify the capacity needs of INEC.
We understand also that the mission is led by the Chairperson, National Elections Commission of Liberia and comprises other Chairpersons/Commissioners from ECONEC members, as well as the Permanent Secretary and staff of ECONEC and experts from International IDEA and EISA.
We are indeed excited to welcome you to Nigeria and to have you with us today. We commend and appreciate your invaluable role in deepening democracy in Nigeria and the sub region at large. Your mandate is in sync with the role of the Inter Party Advisory Council in our efforts in strengthening our democracy and ensuring its principles are observed within its tenets and global best practices. We therefore, applaud ECONEC’s efforts in promoting free, transparent, and credible elections in the sub region and Nigeria in particular.
Also critical is ECONEC’s role in assessing the implementation of its recommendations by evaluating the extent to which previous recommendations from ECOWAS and African Union election observation missions have been implemented, identify possible areas of support for the implementation of these recommendations and assess the legal and operational aspects towards the 2027 General Election to identify the capacity needs of INEC.
We acknowledge the areas of ECONEC recommendations that affect IPAC, namely:
i. Recommendation:
Ensuring that political parties and supporters understand the role of observers, specifically ECOWAS elections observers and at no time threaten their physical presence with violence.
In this regard, IPAC has worked with key stakeholders and development partners, namely, National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), Kukah Foundation, etc., in the implementation of its four (4) years strategic plans in the area of Training and interactive workshops on dialogue and mediation as tools for preventing and mitigating election-related disputes and violence for political actors and stakeholders, including IPAC members.
These workshops aim to strengthen IPAC's capacity to prevent and mitigate potential pre- and post-election-related disputes and violence, ensuring peaceful electoral outcomes. IPAC also works with various stakeholders, including INEC, security agencies, and civil society organizations, to promote peaceful elections and adherence to electoral laws.
IPAC equally emphasizes the importance of dialogue and mediation in resolving electoral disputes and conflicts, promoting a culture of peace and tolerance among political parties and supporters. By engaging political parties and stakeholders in dialogue and mediation, IPAC promotes a culture of peace and tolerance, reducing the likelihood of threats against observers' physical presence during elections. ECONEC can also partner with IPAC in this aspect.
ii. Recommendation:
Political Parties should train their agents to effectively discharge their duties in the Polling Units with particular focus on collecting and collating certified polling unit results.
This is also being done through the sensitization of Council members on the need to build the capacity of their respective members and ensure that committed and enlightened party members are engaged as polling unit agents. Party agents are trained to understand their roles and effectively protect the interest of their parties at the polling units and collation centers.
Unfortunately, some political parties don't have polling agents in most of the polling units in the country & some polling agents are bought over by some political parties' agents to manipulate results or rig elections. The financial cost of having polling agents across the country is enormous which parties that are not in government cannot afford. It is the reason IPAC canvases for the return of annual grant to political parties in the ongoing Constitution and Electoral Act amendment.
iii. Recommendation:
The inter-party dialogue on Memorandum of Understanding should be strengthened so that candidates and political parties may embrace the culture of conceding defeat rather than always disputing election results.
There has been consistent dialogue between political parties under the umbrella of IPAC. The Council initially operated a Code of Conduct for its members, and recently worked with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) to transit from a Code of Conduct to a Constitution. The Constitution was launched yesterday, Wednesday 30th July 2025 in Abuja, facilitated by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy. It is expected that compliance to the Constitution, which all the political parties are signatories to, would go a long way in reducing conflicts, especially in the area of inter and intra party conflict resolutions mechanisms provided by the Constitution.
There is a general assumption in Nigeria that elections are always rigged and results written before polls. Some candidates also approach the elections tribunals to negotiate for appointments to offices or financial rewards. Sadly, the judiciary arrogates to itself the functions of the election returning officer and issues conflicting orders and judgements which encourage some candidates to save money for litigation hoping to reap from the court what they lost in the ballot box. If elections are transparent and seen to be so, this absurdity will stop. It is hoped that with improved BVAS and IReV portals future elections will be free, fair, credible, transparent and acceptable to citizens.
iv. Recommendation:
Desist from propagating and utilizing ethno-religious cleavages and the North-South dichotomy as a political instrument/strategy as it heightens intolerance and constitutes a dangerous threat to peace and stability during the electioneering period.
In this regard, using the instrumentality of Voter Education and awareness programmes, especially during elections usually done in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Inter Party Advisory has greatly mobilized Nigerians to desist from propagating and utilizing ethno-religious cleavages and the North-South dichotomy as a political instrument/strategy as it heightens intolerance and constitutes a dangerous threat to peace and stability during campaigns and electioneering period.
In spite of efforts to solve this problem, it persists. The issue continues in the ongoing political permutations ahead of the 2027 general election where zoning of candidates to North or South is being canvassed with religious colouration. Council will continue to intervene on this with intensive voter education and why it needs funds to implement this among others.
v. Recommendation: Intensify the campaign to sensitize party supporters on the need to continuously embrace peaceful disposition and political tolerance.
Similarly, using the instrumentality of Voter Education and awareness programmes, especially during elections also done in collaboration with INEC, IPAC has consistently sensitized Nigerians on the need to continuously embrace peaceful disposition and political tolerance before, during and after elections. The effort of IPAC is complemented by the National Peace Committee led by the former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar which organises the signing of a Peace Accord by leaders of political parties and their candidates before elections. These initiatives have helped to douse tension in the polity during elections. Notwithstanding, hate speech, intimidation of voters, vote trading and violence still persist that undermine the nation's electoral process. Though we are not yet where we desire to be, certainly, we are not where we used to be. With the support of ECONEC, INEC and other development partners we shall overcome this challenge and foster election integrity and credibility essential in rebuilding trust and deepening the nation's democracy.
Finally, we are conscious that a lot more needs to be done. We appreciate your role in this regard and look forward to a collaboration with you and other development partners to support us to do more in the interest of the nation’s emerging democracy.
Once again, I wish to on behalf of the Council appreciate you for coming and with a firm belief that your visit would be highly rewarding.
We wish you journey mercies at the end of your mission in Nigeria.
Thank you
