C' River IPAC Hails LG Elections, Calls For Aggressive Electoral Reforms
Ndiferek BASSEY
The leadership of the Inter Party Advisory Council, (IPAC) Cross River State has congratulated the newly elected local government Chairmen and Councilors in the 18 LGAs and 196 wards in Cross River State for emerging victorious in the just concluded local government elections in the State.
Addressing newsmen in Calabar after the inauguration of the elected executives, the Chairman, Engr. Effiom Edet, lauded the relatively peaceful conduct of the election across the State.
He commended CROSIEC for not shifting the election beyond the generally agreed date and thanked His Excellency Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu the Executive Governor of Cross River State for conducting a successful local government election in his administration that will bring more developments to the grassroots in Cross River State through the elected Chairmen and Councillors.
He, however, called for immediate reforms of the process leading to the conduct of the grassroots elections going forward. He acknowledged that the election was not without flaws, which are characteristics of local government elections in Nigeria. He attributed the flaws to the rush to beat the Supreme Court dateline.
He further called for aggressive electoral reforms that will drive a better electoral process in the future, noting that such reforms are necessary to deepen our democracy.
He admonished the winners to be magnanimous in victory while urging the losers to accept the outcome with equanimity or seek redress through legitimate means because we must continue to enjoy a peaceful political atmosphere and coexistence in Cross River State. He charged the ruling party, APC to run an inclusive grassroots administration by carrying other political parties along in governance as we are all Cross Riverians.
He counseled all political gladiators to put Cross River State first ahead of partisan interest by promoting peaceful coexistence.
The chairman further enjoined the elected officials to swing into action immediately, insisting that the people are in a hurry to really start enjoying the dividends of democracy at the grassroots more in Cross River State.
