The Inter‑Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Cross River State welcomed a directive from Governor Bassey Otu to arrest suspected thugs accused of attacking opposition figures. The move, announced on Monday, 9 November, is framed as a step toward safeguarding political participation and preventing violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
IPAC said the directive would protect the rights of political parties and help create an atmosphere for peaceful competition in the state. “This action is a clear signal that political engagement must not endanger lives or public order,” the council’s state chairman, Engr. Effiom Edet Okon, said in a press statement.
In the same statement, Okon outlined the council’s plans to promote political accountability and peaceful coexistence. IPAC urged parties, candidates and their supporters to adopt issue‑based campaigns, responsible communication and non‑violent competition.
As part of its accountability drive, IPAC will tour all 18 local government areas to inspect government projects, assess implementation levels and determine their impact on communities. The exercise will involve local government chairmen, security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political party leaders, aspirants, candidates and community representatives.
IPAC also announced a statewide political stakeholders’ conference to encourage dialogue and consensus‑building, and a political parties’ peace walk scheduled for Saturday, 5 December 2026. The walk will carry the theme “Unity in Diversity, Peace for a Greater Cross River.”
Reaffirming its commitment to protecting the democratic space, IPAC said it will continue to ensure that political disagreements do not degenerate into violence as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
