The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has condemned the new electoral law introduced by the Anambra State government, labeling it a direct assault on Nigeria’s democratic values.
In a statement issued on Friday by its National Chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, IPAC vowed to resist the law, which they claim undermines the Constitution and the Electoral Act of 2022.
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The council highlighted that the law was hurriedly passed by the Anambra State House of Assembly in a single day, just ahead of the upcoming September 28 Local Government elections.
IPAC argues that this rushed process is a clear attempt to manipulate the electoral framework to favor certain political interests.
Dantalle criticized the law as a “retrogressive and anti-democratic” move that exemplifies “legislative recklessness” and a “deliberate assault on the rule of law.”
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IPAC asserted that the law is designed to centralize power within the state, contradicting the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and the 2022 Electoral Act, which delineate the roles and powers of political parties and electoral bodies.
The council emphasized its intention to challenge the law in court, citing the Supreme Court’s previous rulings against similar legislative overreach.
IPAC also reiterated its long-standing advocacy for the abolition of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), arguing that these bodies have consistently failed to conduct free and fair elections.
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IPAC called on the Anambra State government to withdraw the law to avoid political instability and legal battles, warning that the new legislation could disrupt the relative peace in the state and set a dangerous precedent for the country’s democracy.
The council further reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic process and ensuring that power remains with the people, not through backdoor legislative maneuvers.
