IPAC is a sham, if only used to justify the EC’s predetermined position.
The use of “rent a party” participants to blindly support its position without cogent arguments is a disgrace and not a debate.
The very composition of IPAC which effectively mutes the voice of Independent contestants in the electoral contest is questionable.
All Presidential Candidates must have representation in any conversation that affects the rules, processes and procedures of the contest in which all of them will participate.
If this requires the name of IPAC to be changed to reflect its true function and purpose more inclusively, then so be it.
The EC must not be left with the full luxury of creating contrived institutions and instruments that bolster its position as an unchallenged referee in a match where it is perceived to have vested interests and a weighted hand by virtue of its intransigence to full transparency.
Already the manner of appointment of the EC Chair sets off suspicion that one contestant brings their preferred referee to a match with intent to maximize the advantage of incumbency.
It is only constitutional reforms that can avoid this glaring basis for suspicion and therefore demand for full transparency.
Whilst NIM fully endorse the NDC’s position for an independent external audit of the register, I must stress that this must be adopted as a routine institutional arrangement before every election. This will ensure that “what is good for the goose is also good for the gander”. After all the very same EC chair that is currently resisting and external audit now, made very cogent and vigorous argument for an external audit of the Electoral register not si far in the recent past as head of IEA.
At the time her voice as a champion if transparency was effectively the gold standard. So why the recalcitrance fir an external audit of the register today?!!!!
The demand for an external audit is a felt need by some participants that will feel hard done by if it is not conducted as an integral part of the process of cleansing and I dare say “fumigating” the Electoral register.
The external audit will ensure that even after cleaning, the “cocroaches” that are hidden in the woodworks of the Electoral register will be reliably exterminated, hopefully with their “eggs”.
EC must yield to the demand for an external audit of the Electoral register now and also institute it as an integral part of the election cycle every four years. This must be done before this crucial election in the national interest.
By Dr Abu Sakara Foster, Founder of the National Interest Movement (NIM).
