In a rare show of unity, Nigeria’s 19 registered political parties have come together under the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) to demand sweeping reforms to the nation’s electoral process — including same-day elections, mandatory technology use, and severe penalties for electoral offenders.
At a public hearing before the Joint Committee on Electoral Matters of the National Assembly, IPAC’s Deputy National Chairman, Dipo Olayoku, speaking on behalf of National Chairman Dr. Yusuf Dantalle, urged lawmakers to “rise to the moment” and deliver amendments that will protect the sanctity of the ballot and restore public trust in Nigeria’s democracy.
“Our democracy is too important to be left vulnerable to manipulation and inefficiency,” Olayoku declared. “We must modernize our electoral system, enforce accountability, and give Nigerians the confidence that every vote counts.”
IPAC’s submission followed months of consultations and a resolution reached at its General Assembly of August 27, 2024, where all political parties agreed on a common reform agenda for credible elections.
The proposed for all elections to be conducted in one day to cut costs, curb voter fatigue, and discourage post-election crises and for use of BVAS and IReV to be made compulsory, to ensure transparent accreditation and result transmission.
They also called for correction or rescheduling of elections in polling units where technical glitches occur be mandatory.
Other proposals included the need to imposed stiff sanctions on electoral offenders, to deter fraud and violence, Ensure all election petitions are resolved before swearing-in, to end the era of “tenure under litigation.”
Other reforms demanded by IPAC included the Linking voter registration (CVR) to the National Identification Number (NIN), to eliminate duplicate registrations and strengthen the credibility of the voters’ register.
Olayoku emphasized that adopting these reforms would mark a turning point in Nigeria’s democratic journey, saying:
“These changes are not about politics — they are about protecting the future of Nigeria. If we fail to act boldly now, we risk eroding public confidence in democracy itself.”
The call by IPAC has reignited national conversation around electoral accountability, with civil society groups, election monitors, and political analysts welcoming the council’s unified stance as a “positive step toward building a stronger democratic culture.”
As the National Assembly considers the proposals, expectations are high that the final amendments will prioritize integrity, transparency, and inclusiveness ahead of the 2025 general elections.
“What Nigerians want is simple; a system they can trust,” Olayoku concluded. “And with these reforms, we can finally give them that.”
