By Kelvin Obambon
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has elected officers into its executive committee to run the affairs of the body in the next two years. The election followed the expiration of tenure of the Anthony Bisong-led executive committee of IPAC, Cross River.
The election which held Friday at the state office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Calabar, saw Mr Effiom Edet Okon, state Chairman of Action People’s Party, emerged as IPAC chairman.
Also elected were APGA’s Omaleko E. Omaleko, deputy chairman; YPP’s Omari Frederick Eje, secretary; SDP’s Meitin Bassey, deputy secretary; PDP’s Ojisi Michael Ntui, financial secretary; APC’s Effiom Bassey Effiong, treasurer; ZLP’s Victory Okoi Ubangha, organizing secretary; APM’s Odigha Michael Odigha, publicity secretary, and NNPP’s Odey Anthony Ogboriku, legal adviser.
The election which was monitored by INEC team led by Mr Eldred Davies, who stood in for the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Gabriel Yomere, had the IPAC chairman and other executive committee members returned unopposed.
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Speaking shortly after taking oath of office, the newly elected chairman, Mr Effiom Edet Okon, thanked the state governor, Prince Bassey Otu for creating a conducive atmosphere that has enable IPAC to continue to carryout its activities without any hindrance.
Effiom pledged that under his leadership, IPAC would have the best representation, adding that as time goes on he would unfold his blueprint for Cross River, while at the same time build on the successes of his predecessor.
According to him, “the role of IPAC is advisory and to have intermediate relationship between the people, the political parties and the government. There’s so much beauty in continuity. Though we have programmes that would cut across the three senatorial districts in Cross River State, we would build on the successes recorded by the previous exco.”
Also speaking, chairman of the electoral committee from IPAC national office, Abuja, Alhaji Saheed Baba Abdullahi, commended the delegates for conducting themselves in a peaceful manner.
“We followed due procedure to dissolve the former exco and come up with another exco. The exco is actually true representatives of the political parties that are here in Cross River State. As such, we could say that the election was done in peace and there was harmony among themselves. That’s the best thing. The aim and objective of IPAC is to solidify unity among political parties and for the state to live in peace.
“They lead criticism on something that’s important in order to uplift the status of the state and the country in general. They are more of something very important to the development of political democracy in the state. We hope they will be able to excel in such a manner that they conduct themselves today. I’m pleased that it is done in peace and harmony without any rancour among themselves.
“I congratulate the resident electoral office in cooperating and then seeing to the mobilization of the political parties that are here and listen to them carefully and take the appropriate move. We look forward to further interaction among them. It is a well done activity. We pray for the executive to work in harmony,” he said.
On his part, the newly elected secretary of IPAC, Omari Frederick Eje, said “This newly elected IPAC members know their onions very well. They’ve been in the system for a very long time and as such they are not going to derail in any way in bringing the most peaceful solutions to matters that affect electoral system in our state. Peaceful cooperation is what is going to translate to good governance, and it will enable us achieve better things for our state politically and economically.”
Security agents were on ground to ensure a hitch free exercise.
