IPAC to begin mass mobilisation of 500,000 C’River for continuous voter registration

The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Cross River chapter says it has set up a Committee to begin mobilisation of eligible voters in the 18 Local Government Areas for Continuous Voter Registration due to commence in March, 2021.

The newly elected Chairman of IPAC in the state, Mr Anthony Bissong disclosed this in a statement made available to Journalists after it’s inaugural executive council meeting which ended in the early hours on Sunday in Calabar.

In the statement entitled: “Cross River State; An Appraisal of our Leaders and the quest for a better Representation,” said that the executive committee of IPAC in the state have resolved to collaborate with all stakeholders in the Cross River project.

It said that the current voter strength of 1.4 million in a state of over four million people was unacceptable and is costing the state a lot in the political equation of the country.

“Ahead of the forthcoming Continuous Voters Registration starting in March, we are set to embark on aggressive mobilisation of over 500, 000 (five hundred thousand) Cross Riverian to register in order to boost the voting strength of our state, ‘ he said.

The council also pledged IPAC’s support of “Operation Akpakwu” the state security outfit, an initiative of the State Government in it’s fight against kidnapping and other crimes.

In this regard, “we will be holding a State Security Summit to enlighten our people about the need to take ownership of their security.”

Bisong said that IPAC was made up of chairmen of 18 registered political parties in the state, therefore, it represents a very significant majority of voters in the state.

“As the leaders of political parties in the state and the closest midwives to the people, we deem it necessary to demand the score card of those elected to serve our people as a yardstick to guide the electorate’s choice in subsequent elections in the state.

“Research has showed that elected representatives in our state ranks one of the least in the 36 states of the federation in delivering dividends of democracy to the electorate.

“It is common knowledge that immediately after election, over 80 per cent of our representatives from Local Government Chairmen, State and National Assembly Members and even the Governor becomes disconnected, aloof, inaccessible and almost completely cut off from the people until the eve of the next election.

“We call on all our legislatures at both State and National levels to sponsor bills that are capable of bringing development and empowerment to their constituents and not duplicating and recycling bills like setting up tertiary institutions or other obnoxious bills that have little or no impact on their constituencies, ” IPAC said.

The council further advised the state ggovernment to, ” prioritize ongoing state projects in order to ensure that the state does not become a firmament of abandoned projects at the end of this administration.”

Other members of the committee include, Mr Ekeng Effiom of African Alliance; Mr Patrick Agbor, African Democratic Congress and Dr Vincent Ebu-African Democratic Party.