Inter-Party Council Condemns Clampdown On Peaceful Protesters At National Assembly

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has condemned the clampdown on peaceful protesters by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) at the National Assembly in Abuja.

It described the action as inconsistent with democratic norms and constitutional governance.

In a press release issued from its National Secretariat in Abuja, and signed by the IPAC national publicity secretary, Comrade Egbeola Wale Martins, the council criticised the deployment of teargas against citizens who were lawfully demonstrating at the National Assembly.

The protesters were expressing concerns over the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

IPAC stated that the right to peaceful protest is “fundamental and inalienable in any democracy” and warned that any attempt to suppress or intimidate citizens for exercising that right is “patently anti-democratic” and must be condemned without reservation.

The council called on the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force, particularly the Inspector General of Police, to ensure that officers operate within their constitutional mandate. According to IPAC, the duty of the police in a democratic society is to protect citizens and safeguard their rights, not to harass or manhandle peaceful protesters advocating caution in legislative matters.

IPAC further urged the Inspector General to call erring officers to order and guarantee full respect for citizens’ fundamental rights in future engagements.

Beyond the police action, IPAC also cautioned the National Assembly against actions that could undermine Nigeria’s “hard-earned democracy.” The council stressed that lawmaking is a sacred national responsibility that must be guided by patriotism and the national interest, rather than partisan or personal considerations.

The group expressed concern over the manner in which the Electoral Act Amendment Bill was passed, noting that it has generated widespread apprehension and created the impression that partisan interests may have been prioritised above national interest. Such perceptions, IPAC warned, do not inspire confidence in the country’s democratic process.

Reaffirming its stance on electoral reforms, IPAC maintained that the mandatory electronic transmission of election results directly from polling units to the IREV portal—without any inserted proviso—remains the minimum acceptable standard for enhancing electoral transparency, credibility, and public trust.

“Power is transient,” the statement read, adding that decisions taken while in office will ultimately either protect or haunt public officials after they leave power, as “history remains the impartial judge of all actions.”

The group urged all democratic institutions to act responsibly and strengthen, rather than weaken, the foundations of Nigeria’s democracy.