By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has said that democracy in Nigeria would not have experienced continuous improvement without the support of the European Union (EU).
IPAC’s National Chairman, Alhaji Yagbagi Sani, made the assertion in Abuja, when the European Union Observation follow-up Mission delegation, led by its Chief, Marie Arena, visited him.
Alhaji Sani said the EU Parliament had done a great job by ensuring good governance and regional stability through the enthronement of an enduring democratic system.
He said with the coming on stream of the amended Electoral Act, political parties are now more than before, expected to use ICT and related technology in their internal affairs and interaction with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The IPAC chairman appealed to the EU to assist the political parties with computer hardware, as well as human capacity training in the use and application of ICT.
This, he said, would enhance their capacity to meet up with the challenges and demands of the Electoral Act in the countdown to the 2023 general elections.
He also told the EU Election Observer Mission delegation that IPAC wanted to establish an African Democratic Institute (ADI) to provide elaborate training programmes for politicians and administrative support structures in political parties.
He appealed to international donor agencies, especially the European Parliament, to consider assisting IPAC both in the take-off and sustenance of the Institute.
Earlier, the head of the EU delegation, Ms Arena said the EU would continue to support any organisation that works towards entrenching democratic principles in the country.
She urged IPAC to ensure gender inclusivity in the running of the activities of the political parties.
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