20 January 2020
PRESS RELEASE/CONFERENCE ON THE EKUREKU 1 & 2 ELECTION RERUN FOR THE ABI/YAKURR FEDERAL CONTITUENCY.
The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Cross River Chapter, views with utmost concern, the building tension, arising from preparations for the Ekureku 1 & 2 election rerun for the Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency, between the Rt. Hon. Barr. John Gaul Lebo of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and Hon. Dr. Alex Egbona of the All Progressive Congress (APC), slated to hold just a few days away, on Saturday January 25, 2020.
Our deep worries stem from the curious observation that the two Contestants involved, are alleged to have amassed an army of miscreants and weaponry, after engaging hordes of private security personnel, for the purpose of conducting surveillance and possibly unleashing terror on perceived opponents, where deemed fit.
We rise in unison, to strongly condemn such moves, as they were in steep violation of our laws, for the fact that our Constitution rests the burden of securing lives and property on State Agents like Police, DSS, NSCDC, and other State Actors.
May we warn that the Political Parties Code of conduct of IPAC which is binding to all candidates irrespective of political divide will be implemented to the later by the IPAC.
Free and fair elections, one-man-one-vote will be sacrosanct and non negotiable, we shall not hesitate to call for a cancellation of the said elections and call in the security agencies to deal with any body involved no matter how highly placed according to the political parties Code of Conduct 2019 as amended.
The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), therefore, calls on the The Commissioner of Police and other Security Agencies, to as a matter of urgency, wade into this emerging threat and nip it in the bud, as it bellies the potentialities to assume hydra-headed crises which might escalate hostilities, that would end up undermining the safety of Cross Riverians of Abi extraction and indeed, all other participants, at this National duty.
Some of the candidates are even arranging Police from Abuja and emphasize that it’s the responsibility of the Commissioner of Police in the CRS Command to provide security personnel for the election.
God Bless Cross River.
Castro Ezama
Secretary
IPAC Cross River
20th January 2020.
