“IPAC Threatens to Block Cross River LG Allocations Over Delayed Council Elections”

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Cross River State has threatened to petition the Federal Government to withhold monthly allocations to the 18 local government areas if Governor Bassey Otu fails to conduct council elections by December 2024.

At a press conference, IPAC Chairman Engr. Effiom Edet demanded that the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC) promptly release the election timetable.

Additionally, IPAC urged the Governor to swiftly assent to the amended CROSIEC Bill, passed by the State House of Assembly, to regulate council elections.

IPAC emphasized that the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy supports their demand for timely elections. If the elections are not conducted by the end of December 2024, IPAC will request that the federal government halt allocations to the local governments.

IPAC also charged CROSIEC with ensuring a free, fair, transparent, and peaceful electoral process.”