IPAC Conducts Peaceful Election in Cross River, Stakeholders Commend Process
By Victoria Omini
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has successfully conducted its 2026 Cross River State election, with stakeholders commending the process as peaceful, transparent and credible.
Speaking shortly after the exercise, Dunamis Archibong, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Political Affairs in the Office of the Chief of Staff, said the election forms part of the council’s annual activities as provided in the revised IPAC code. According to him, the process was conducted by the national IPAC election committee in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), while the Office of the Special Adviser on Inter Party Affairs coordinated the exercise under the supervision of the Office of the Chief of Staff.
Archibong explained that the election was aimed at strengthening peaceful coexistence among political parties in Cross River State. He emphasized that political leaders must prioritize the collective interest of the state above party affiliations.
He stated that before anyone becomes a political party chairman, he or she is first a Cross Riverian and therefore must work towards the unity and development of the state regardless of party loyalty.
Archibong further noted that the election produced leadership outside the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), demonstrating fairness and inclusiveness in the process. He disclosed that the newly elected IPAC chairman in the state emerged from the Action Peoples Party (APP).
He thanked the national IPAC delegation from Abuja for conducting the exercise without rancour and also appreciated the Chief of Staff, the Special Adviser on Inter Party Affairs, security agencies and members of the media for their roles in ensuring a successful election.
Also speaking, Barrister Ago Bede Okukwe, National Organising Secretary of the Action Peoples Party and National Legal Adviser of IPAC, described the council as the umbrella body of all political parties registered by INEC in Nigeria.
He explained that the core objective of IPAC is to deepen democracy and promote collaboration among political parties across the country. According to him, the IPAC constitution provides for executive councils in every state and plans are underway to extend the structure to local government areas across Nigeria.
Okukwe noted that politics is fundamentally grassroots oriented and that establishing IPAC structures in the 774 local government areas of the country will further strengthen democratic engagement.
Assessing the election, he described the exercise as free, fair and credible, adding that every electoral contest naturally comes with disagreements but must always be guided by established rules and procedures. He explained that the council strictly adhered to its constitutional guidelines in conducting the election.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Inter Party Affairs, Honourable Eden Nkoyo, also commended the peaceful conduct of the exercise. She said the election was conducted by the national leadership of IPAC led by its chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, who travelled from Abuja to supervise the process.
Nkoyo stated that the peaceful conduct of the election reflects the character of Cross River State and the leadership style of the state governor, Bassey Edet Otu, whom she described as a leader committed to unity and peaceful political engagement.
During the closing session, the national chairman of IPAC, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, congratulated the newly elected chairman of the Cross River State chapter on his re election for a second term.
He acknowledged that elections often come with disagreements but urged the leadership to remain magnanimous in victory and work with all political parties regardless of differences.
Dantalle described IPAC as a family of political parties and advised the leadership to remain tolerant, patient and inclusive while carrying out its responsibilities.
In his acceptance remarks, the re elected state chairman of IPAC expressed gratitude to the national leadership of the council, the Independent National Electoral Commission, the electoral committee and party leaders in the state for their confidence in him.
He also appreciated the Special Adviser on Inter Party Affairs for facilitating collaboration among political parties and thanked Governor Bassey Edet Otu and the Chief of Staff, Emmanuel Ironbar, for their support towards strengthening democratic engagement in the state.
The just elected chairman pledged that the new executive would continue to deepen democracy in Cross River State by promoting inclusive governance and ensuring that the voices of citizens are heard regardless of political affiliation.
He assured that the council would continue to provide constructive advice to the government while working with all stakeholders to sustain peace and democratic development in the state.
