Members reject Abia IPAC election; accuse Prof Nnaji of bias

Sunday Nwakanma, Umuahia

Aggrieved members of the Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC in Abia State have rejected the election of its state executive officers in Imo and Abia states which was conducted last weekend.

They also declared the elections that took place at the premises of the Independent National Electoral Commission headquarters in Umuahia and conducted by Professor Bartholomew Nnaji as illegal, null and void and a total disregard to the code of conduct that guides IPAC.

Led by Mr. Menelik Ukpai who is also a contestant for the post of the state chairman of IPAC, while addressing journalists in Umuahia on Tuesday, the aggrieved members said the 3-man committee led by Professor Bartholomew Nnaji did not follow IPAC accreditation process, as well as disqualifying political party chairmen and representatives who had presented their letter of identification or were identified and authenticated by their national chairman or national secretary by insisting that only those who participated in the Abia IPAC election of 2016 as indicated by Abia state INEC records of that election are eligible to participate in the 2017 Abia state IPAC elections.

According to Ukpai he said “the election was marred by a flagrant disregard of the IPAC code of conduct by the election committee chairman, Prof. Nnaji of Better Nigeria Peoples Party (BNPP).

“In the forward to the IPAC code of conduct 2013 it states that “the political parties code of conduct 2013 reflects the determination of political parties and the independent national electoral commission (INEC) as major stakeholders for sustained and constructive political engagement, first within and between political parties and then between political parties and the commission, that could lead to a more stable and credible electoral culture in the country.

“In violation of these ethical objectives, Prof. Nnaji, in a badly flawed accreditation process, began disqualifying political party chairmen and representatives who had presented their letter of identification or were identified and authenticated by their national chairman or national secretary by insisting – following the prompting of the Abia state chairman for Independent Democrats (ID) -that only those who participated in the Abia IPAC election of 2016 as indicated by Abia state INEC records of that election are eligible to participate in the 2017 Abia state IPAC elections. He directly violated the section of the IPAC code of conduct which stated that ‘’ the IPAC general body shall comprise a representative from each of the registered political parties and a representative from INEC.

“Many political parties, by this fraudulent exercise were disenfranchised and were denied of their right to vote and be voted for.

“Following the outrage that ensued among the disenfranchised political parties, prof. Nnaji further complicated matters by insisting that the election into the various offices be done one by one.”

Ukpai said he pointed out to the electoral committee that Emeka Okafor who was later declared winner was elected as chairman of IPAC in Abia state in 2015 and was re-elected in 2016 and cited the guideline of the code of conduct article 7 on Implementation, Monitoring and Enforcement. In section (3), subsection (i) the IPAC general body shall, ‘’under the supervision of INEC, elect the seven (7) member executive committee of IPAC for a one year term renewable for an additional one year based on merit and commitment,’. Prof. Nnaji insisted that the election should continue, despite the objections raised.

Meanwhile, Chief Ogbuefi Dike Secretary of the Election Committee pointed out that the election be conducted strictly in accord with the provisions of the code of conduct. “If Emeka Okafor had served as chairman for two tenures it is necessary that the facts be established by resorting to the records. Prof. Nnaji insisted that the election will continue. Rev. Ehiemere the state chairman of all progressive grand alliance (APGA) asked Prof. Nnaji if he is refusing to use the code of conduct as a guide for the election, will he mind informing the house the source of the guideline for the election. Prof. Nnaji held up his hand held telephone and said ‘’this’’. The house then erupted into chaos.

Also speaking, Barrister Uche Ogbonnaya, state Chairman of PDM said that Prof. Nnaji had no reason to conduct the election outside the guideline of the code of conduct and contended that the IPAC code of conduct provides the guideline for IPAC elections he further asked that the issue of the third tenure which was raised be treated to validate the legitimacy of the contestants.