IPAC NOT PART OF ANTI-IGINI PROTEST IN A'IBOM

... demands apology from APC

Attempts by Senator Godswill Akpabio's faction of the APC to robe in other political parties in their purported protest against the Akwa Ibom State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barr. Mike Igini has been resisted by the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC.

Recall that on Wednesday, some protesters believed to be hired by a faction of the APC loyal to Senator Akpabio, had gathered at Udo Udoma Avenue calling for the removal of Igini for not dancing to their tune.

The APC faction had claimed that aside its party, other political parties were part of the protest, a claim that has been refuted by IPAC.

Distancing itself from the statement credited to APC, IPAC called on the opposition party, APC to immediately retract the statement and issue an apology to it.

IPAC disclosed that there was never a time the APC in the state approached the Council with any complain against the INEC REC, Mr. Mike Igini, let alone discussing or agreeing on any protest of any sort against the Resident Electoral Commissioner.

The Council has therefore urged the opposition party to channel it's grievance to appropriate quarters rather than dragging it into their internal crisis.

The statement reads; "The attention of the Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria IPAC, Akwa Ibom State, has been drawn to the speculation making the round that the purported protests carried out by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State seeking the removal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Mike Igini, was the position of all the seventeen (17) political parties in the State except the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
We wish to state categorically that:"

"Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria in Akwa Ibom State is the umbrella body of all registered political parties in the State saddled with the responsibility of playing dialogue and advisory roles on Inter-Party related matters, as well settling internal rancour between political parties"

"There was never a time the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the State approached the council with any complain against Akwa Ibom State Resident Electoral Commissioner , talkless of discussing or agreeing on protest of any sort against the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Mike Igini".

"It is however misleading, untrue and unfounded for APC youths in the State to purport that the protest was a combination of all the political parties in the State. It is for the above reason that IPAC calls for immediate and unconditional retraction of the offending statement and apologies from APC in the State, for dragging the council into their internal party affairs with Mr. Mike Igini".

"We want to place on record thet over the years IPAC has enjoyed a healthy working relationship with Independent National Electoral Commission in the State. We advise the All Progressives Congress in the State to look for ways to resolve their internal conflicts as other political parties in the state are doing without involving innocent third parties like INEC".

"APC should channel their complaints and grievances to appropriate quarters rather than dragging Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria in Akwa Ibom State into their crisis".

"IPAC will continue to interface with the Independent National Electoral Commission Akwa Ibom State and other stakeholders and other law abiding political parties in the State for the growth and betterment of Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria at large"

"IPAC however calls on all political parties in Akwa Ibom State to remain calm and play by the rules governing the 2023 general elections given by INEC in strict adherence with the electoral laws. We also call on Akwa Ibom youths, women and elders to get their Permanent Voter's Card and vote for the party of their choice for a more secured future".

In another development, another group of protesters, Friday stormed the streets of Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital in a counter protest against the Godswill Akpabio faction of the APC with packards, drumming support for Mike Igini.