By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
Ahead of the November 2 local government council elections in Cross River State, the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, on Monday kick-started the sensitization of voters to enable free and fair conduct of the forthcoming local elections.
At the flag-off of the sensitization ceremony, which took place at the Millennium Park Eleven, Eleven Round About, Calabar, the Cross River State capital with various political parties, the state chairman of IPAC, Engr Effiom Edet Okon, urged residents of the state not to engage in elections rigging, political violence, thuggery and acts that would be inimical to the development of the state and the nation at large.
The IPAC boss stressed that no country succeeds with the wrong individuals elevated to places of authority, or leaders that who come to power via an electoral process that is marred by irregularities.
He warned that as a group who believes in the truth and who advocates for the right thing to be done, it won’t tolerate thuggery, rigging or electoral violence.
He said, “Election is not a do-or-die affair, local government council election, which is to be conducted on November 2 cannot be a do-or-die affair.
“We are taking this sensitization and campaign against violence and thuggery across the three senatorial districts of the state to educate our people on the subject matter.
“We are here to educate our people on the consequences of engaging in rigging and political violence. Once you rig, you deprive the people the opportunity of choosing the right people to lead.
“We are asking residents of the state to come out enmass to cast their votes for candidates of their choices for the local government elections.
“This is why we decided to flag-off this sensitization exercise to let our people know that the electorate should not feel intimidated on that day, but come out and vote candidates of their choices. Candidates who they know will attract development to the grass root.”
