IPAC said urgent steps must be taken to ameliorate the hardship millions of Nigerians face daily, adding that this will spur the political participation of the citizens to give more credence to the electoral process.

The Council National Chairman, Yusuf Dantelle spoke at the INEC Fourth Quarterly Consultative meeting with leaders of political parties in Abuja, ahead of the Saturday, November 16, 2024 governorship election in Ondo State.

Dantelle expressed worry that the rising cost of living and political tension had dampened citizens’ morale in the electoral process resulting in low voter turnout during elections.

The Council urged stakeholders in the electoral process to join in voter education, sensitisation and mobilisation to ensure a free, fair, credible, transparent, inclusive, and peaceful election that will meet international standards.

IPAC also urged political parties and their candidates to imbibe issue-based campaigns and eschew politics of bitterness.

It further called on the commission to put its act together, provide adequate electoral materials, and test run its BVAS and IReV portals to avoid undue technical hitches and glitches that will cast doubt on the integrity of the election.