The Interparty Advisory Council, IPAC, Enugu State, has thumbed-up the conduct of the Saturday Local Government Council Elections in the state, describing the exercise as free, fair, credible, and peaceful.
IPAC also commended what it described as a high voter turnout.
In its preliminary statement issued by IPAC State Chairman, Obioma Nnamani, and the State Secretary, Dr. Afam Ani, in Enugu on Sunday, the organisation commended the non-political interference in the conduct of the election, urging winners and losers to work hand-in-hand for the betterment of Enugu State.
“In consonance with our objective to promote and stimulate peaceful, free, fair as well as credible and transparent elections in accordance with the law, IPAC deployed observers across the 17 local government areas to monitor the conduct of the 21st September 2024 local government election in Enugu State.
“IPAC’s preliminary report shows that there was no known issue of electoral violence, as the exercise was peaceful. This is a very major win for our electoral process and we commend the leaders, stakeholders, and security agencies for this.
“Importantly, there was substantial compliance with the provisions of the law in the conduct of the elections by the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission, ENSIEC.
“IPAC, however, observed the late arrival of election materials in some areas of the state, partly due to early morning heavy downpour in parts of the state.
“There were equally reports of some isolated cases of infractions reported by some of our members, which we are already investigating.
“But notwithstanding, the exercise was overwhelmingly transparent, free, fair, and credible on the whole.
“While we enjoin both the winners and losers to work together for the development and good governance of Enugu State, we urge any party or candidate, who feels shortchanged in any way, to seek redresses according to the rule of law,” the statement read in part.
IPAC called for continued political education to also help the people to hold the newly elected leaders accountable.
“While elections are a very critical ingredient of democracy, as if provides the people the opportunity to exercise their fundamental rights of freely choosing their own leaders, elections are not end in themselves.
“Therefore, we call on the civil society and political parties alike to raise the bar of political education and consciousness to ensure that elected leaders, including those elected in the Saturday council polls, not only deliver democracy dividends to the people, but that they are also held accountable in doing so,” IPAC concluded.
