No fewer than eight political parties in Zamfara have distanced themselves from what they described as an unauthorised Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) operating in the state.
The parties made their position known at a press conference in Gusau on Saturday, where they rejected a recent conference purportedly organised by individuals claiming to represent IPAC in the state.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Ambassador Adamu Haruna Tsafe said the eight parties were not aware of the purported conference and did not recognise the individuals presenting themselves as IPAC leaders in Zamfara.
Tsafe also questioned the legitimacy of the purported state leadership, alleging that the election through which it emerged was conducted in a manner that did not meet the expectations of the participating parties.
He said the development had resulted in a petition, adding that the coalition was awaiting a response from the IPAC national headquarters in Abuja.
“We want to make it clear that the eight political parties that constitute part of IPAC are not aware of the conference,” Tsafe said.
“We therefore condemn the act and totally dissociate ourselves from the so-called press conference that holds no objective and reason.”
He further argued that IPAC’s role was to promote cooperation among political parties and strengthen internal democracy, rather than condemn governments.
According to him, “It is against the laid down rules of IPAC to condemn any government but to ensure parties build their internal democracy.”
The political parties represented at the briefing were A.A., Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), African Action Congress (AAC), Young Progressive Party (YPP), Labour Party (LP) and Action Peoples Party (APP).
