IPAC Warns Against Divisive Politics Ahead of 2027 Elections

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has cautioned political parties in Nigeria against using ethnic, regional, or religious sentiments as campaign tools in the run-up to the 2027 general elections. This warning was delivered during a meeting in Abuja with the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) Post-Election Follow-up and Needs Assessment Mission, which is evaluating Nigeria’s implementation of observer recommendations from the 2023 elections. IPAC Chairman, Dr. Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, emphasized the dangers of divisive politics and stressed the need for national unity and peaceful democratic conduct.

Dantalle urged politicians to avoid exploiting Nigeria’s North-South divide and ethno-religious differences, warning that such strategies only inflame tensions and jeopardize the country’s stability. He reiterated IPAC’s commitment to peaceful electoral processes through continued voter education and collaboration with bodies like INEC and civil society groups. However, he acknowledged that identity politics remains a challenge, especially as zoning debates for the 2027 elections increasingly take on religious undertones.

In addressing electoral transparency, Dantalle called on political parties to invest in training their polling agents to ensure effective monitoring of election results. He lamented that many parties either lack agents at polling units or have agents who are compromised. The IPAC chairman highlighted the high cost of nationwide agent deployment, particularly for smaller parties, and renewed the Council’s call for the reintroduction of annual grants to political parties as part of ongoing constitutional and electoral reforms.

Dantalle also raised concerns about the judiciary’s role in electoral disputes, pointing to inconsistent and politically influenced rulings that undermine public trust. He criticized the trend of candidates going to court not for justice but for political bargaining, and the judiciary acting as de facto returning officers. To strengthen Nigeria’s democracy, he advocated for enhanced use of technologies like BVAS and IReV to promote transparency. Dantalle concluded by commending ECONEC’s support for credible elections in West Africa and reaffirmed IPAC’s commitment to collaboration aimed at deepening democratic institutions and electoral integrity in Nigeria.