By Amuche Agbo, Abakaliki
The Inter Party Advisory Council has elected Comrade Obasi James Alina of Action Alliance (AA) as its new chairman in Ebonyi state.
Comrade Obasi was elected unopposed with the total of 15 votes with the other eight executive members at the state headquarters of Independent National Electoral Commission, Abakaliki to pilot the affairs of the council for the next one year.
The executives are as follows:Hon. Udume Evo Samuel of ADC deputy chairman, Hon. Nchita Samuel Akahuite of ADP Secretary, Evang. Kate Ohakam of APM deputy secretary and chief Ricky Okorouka of APGA, treasurer.
Others are Hon. Austin Nweze Ituma of SDP, publicity secretary, Engr. Felix Ogbonnaya Igboke of APC, organizing secretary, Hon. Nkwuda Sunday of YPP, financial secretary and Hon. Idoma Samuel of PRP,as Legal Adviser.
Speaking, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Leonard Nzenwa, said the election was conducted following the elapse of the previous leadership.
The REC officer who also doubled as the National chairman of Inter Party Advisory Council, said by February 6th, 2020 INEC deregistered seventy four political parties, saying that the development only left eighteen political parties on ground.
According to him:”As we speak now the 74 political parties are political association, we are aware that this 74 political parties are in the court with INEC, you can not be a member of IPAC unless you are a member of the registered political parties, since you are not registered you have nothing to do with IPAC, until INEC decided to reabsorbed those parties, then IPAC will readmit them as members. They have not exhausted their matter with INEC at the supreme court, so this clarification is very important”
“We are not saying that they are not our friends, what we are saying is that once judgement is giving in their own favour, that would be accorded a clear observation”
“They are certain people going around claiming that they are members of IPAC, they are not our members. The leadership which I currently lead is authentic, recognized and legitimate any other leadership that is not under this category does not exist or recognized by the Federal republic of Nigeria” he said
The National president however enjoined all the members of the council in the state not to pay attention to the rumour mongers saying that the election was free, fair and credibly conducted.
Also, speaking, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Inter Party and Labour Matters Comrade Jennifer Adibe-Nwafor expressed glad over the peaceful conduct of the election stating that out of the eighteen registered political parties over seventy percent participated in the exercise.
Comrade Nwafor who was the former IPAC chairman charged the the newly elected executives to continue to imbibe on the spirit of togetherness and peaceful coexistence among members as no meaniful development would be achieved in the atmosphere of rancour and bitterness and also urged them to play the rule of IPAC in the state.
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected chairman Comrade Obasi James Alina congratulated the IPAC delegates from Abuja, security agents, SA to Governor comrade Adibe Nwafor and every other persons who contributed in one way or the other which made the election a success, promised to lead with the utmost transparency, accountability, integrity and honesty.
He appealed to all members of the council to work in unison to build a strong, united, indivisible and a virile IPAC that everyone could be proud of.
He thanked the new officers and urged them to work together with him as a team despite their party differences and ideologies.
He further extolled his predecessor Hon. Akahuite Samuel whom he said had filled the vacuum created in the council following the deregistration of some political parties by INEC for failure to meet up constitutional requirements and lauded the state governor David for giving them a level play ground to operate in the state while promising to devote himself unswervingly towards the attainment of the council objectives and promised to carry everybody along.
Collaborating, Engr. Felix Ogbonna Igboke, the newly elected organizing secretary assured that the people would work in synergy with the Governor of the state Engr. David Umahi stressing that they would harness and harmonized things for the benefit of all members.
Engr. Igboke who is currently the Chairman of Onicha Local Government Area and the state Secretary of All Progressives Congress advised all the members of council to make love and unity their priority to move the council forward.
He added that despite his numerous engagements he would work assiduously to justify the confidence reposed on him by the council.
Adding her voice, Evang. Kate Ohakam the newly elected deputy Secretary also thanked God for the success recorded during exercise and applauded members of IPAC for giving her the opportunity to serve.