By Victor Nwegede
The Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Ebonyi State, Comrade Ernest Nasri Nwaeze, has warned that Nigeria must never drift toward a one-party system, describing such a trend as a grave threat to democratic governance.
Speaking in Abakaliki, Nwaeze said the strength of Nigeria’s democracy lies in its political diversity, stressing that no nation thrives under a single-party structure. He maintained that Ebonyi State, contrary to public perception, is not a one-party enclave.
“Opposition is not about opposing for opposition’s sake. Here in Ebonyi, parties engage constructively, and that is why it sometimes appears as though there is no opposition,” he explained.
Nwaeze revealed that no fewer than 17 political parties are currently active in the state, each operating independently and contributing to governance conversations.
He noted that IPAC serves as a unifying platform where parties such as APC, PDP, APGA, YPP, ADC and others meet to resolve issues amicably and jointly make recommendations to the government.
According to him, some of the council’s past recommendations have led to visible improvements in service delivery and policy execution across the state.
As part of its oversight role, Nwaeze disclosed that IPAC will soon embark on inspection visits to ongoing government projects to ensure standards and timelines are being adhered to.
Reacting to the recent wave of defections to the APC, the chairman said party movement is a normal feature of Nigeria’s political culture and does not in any way invalidate the existence or relevance of other political platforms.
Nwaeze reiterated IPAC’s unwavering support for special seats for women in legislative houses, while calling for enhanced inclusion of youths and persons with disabilities across all party structures.
He urged young people to be security-conscious as the festive season approaches, noting that political activities typically heighten toward the end of the year.
