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AN ADDRESS PRESENTED BY DR. ISHMAEL J. IGBANI
CHAIRMAN, POLITICAL PARTY MONITORING COMMITTEE
OF THE INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION
(INEC) AT THE LAUNCHING OF THE NEWLY REGISTERED POLITICAL PARTY - ADVANCED CONGRESS OF DEMOCRATS
AT THE SHEHU YAR'ADUA CENTRE ON THURSDAY, 20TH
APRIL, 2006
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are highly delighted by this special invitation extended
to the Commission to attend the launching of your party
– Advance Congress of Democrats – ACD.
As you launch your party today, remember to uphold those
provisions of your constitution that allow for and encourage
internal democracy. This is one way in which you can attract
more people to join you. It will make you strong.
As we get closer to the 2007 elections, the Commission
calls on you and all the other parties to emphasize campaigns
based on issues and not on personalities. The people would
want to know how your programmmes will be used to improve
their well-being. They would want to know why you believe
you are in a better position than the other political parties
to improve their conditions of living, their welfare.
Always remember that the most important stakeholders you
have are the voters. Your success at elections will depend
on the efforts you make to convince them to accept your
programmes. They expect you to treat them with respect.
The Commission would like to use this occasion to call
on all the political parties to truly adopt a policy of
zero tolerance to political violence. It is in an atmosphere
devoid of fear and violence that the true wishes of the
people will be known and a free, fair and credible election
guaranteed.
As you undertake your membership drive, we implore you
to use the opportunity to ask the people to come out and
register to vote because only those whose names appear on
the up-dated register of voters can vote in the 2007 elections.
On that note, I wish to use this occasion to formally announce
that the Commission will start the Up-Date of its Electronic
Voters Register (EVR) in the FCT on Saturday, 29th April,
2006 to Sunday, 7th May 2006.
The rest of the country will follow simultaneously at a
later date.
This is the Commission’s goodwill message to you
on your formal entry into the politics of our great country.
Thank you.
Dr. I.J. Igbani
Hon. National Commission, INEC
20th April, 2006.
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