A Civil Society Organisation, Democracy Advocates Initiatives (DAI) has cautioned Political Parties to face the crisis in their party and stop dragging the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) into their political mess.
Amb. Dapo Olutekunbi, Convener of DAI in a statement titled THE STATE OF INTERNAL PARTY DEMOCRACY AND THE UNJUSTIFIED ATTACKS ON THE ELECTORAL UMPIRE described the party crisis as self inflicted.
Read full statement below
As an organization dedicated to the defense of democratic institutions, the Democracy Advocates Initiatives (DAI) can no longer sit idly by while the foundations of our electoral integrity are undermined by political actors who lack internal organizational discipline.
POLITICAL PARTY CRISIS: A SELF-INFLICTED WOUND
Crisis in political parties cannot be negotiable but the capacity to settle them amicably is critical to the growth and future of any Political Party. Disagreement in Leadership of parties has been existing for long as some has now reached a fever pitch. Infact, some Political Parties are witnessing a classic case of a “hostile takeover.”
Due to an internal crisis, some Parties have cast aspersion on the current Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan. A majority of the politicians currently fueling this fire are the same individuals who, after failing to adapt other political platforms to their personal whims, defected to other parties. Instead of building the party, they have brought along a culture of litigation and division.
The Irony: It is truly remarkable that those who proclaim a desire to “salvage” Nigeria are proving themselves utterly incapable of managing their own internal party affairs. If you cannot lead a single political party of 36 state chairmen, how do you intend to lead a nation of over 200 million people?
DEFENDING THE UMPIRE
THE ATTACK ON INEC
The most disappointing aspect of this saga is the coordinated attempt to scapegoat the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its Chairman.
Let us be clear:
On Court Orders:
INEC is a creature of law. Its current position regarding the ADC is in strict compliance with a subsisting court order. For any faction to demand that INEC ignore the law is an invitation to anarchy.
On the Factional Drama: A new faction, claiming to represent all State Chairmen, has emerged. Instead of looking inward to resolve their disputes, they have chosen to blame the INEC Chairman. This is not just mischievous; it is pitiable.
On Personal Attacks: We have noted a caustic, pre-meditated campaign against the INEC Chairman by groups who believe a specific section of this country holds an “exclusive right” to that office. These are not patriotic agitations; they are the desperate gasps of power-mongers whose lack of capacity is being exposed.
IV. OUR STAND: A CALL FOR ACCOUNTABILITY
Nigeria currently has 21 registered political parties. The narrative that democracy is under threat because one party cannot resolve its leadership tussle is a joke taken too far.
Our position is as follows:
Stop the Drama: The ADC leadership must stop the unnecessary media theatrics and put their house in order.
Respect the Law: No amount of blackmail or “victim-playing” will force an unbiased umpire to violate a court order.
End the Scapegoating: INEC’s role is to regulate and conduct elections, not to babysit political parties that are being “self-aborted” by the ego and greed of their leaders.
The Democracy Advocates Initiatives stands firmly with the constitutional role of INEC as an unbiased umpire. We will continue to monitor the space and expose any group masquerading as “Patriots” while actively sabotaging the democratic process through internal dysfunction.
Put your party in order. The 2027 elections will not wait for those who are stuck in the mud of their own making.
