Leadership of Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC has charged the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIElC) and the state governor, Bassey Otu, to extend the proposed local government elections by one week to allow parties involved in the contest to prepare adequately.
IPAC also appealed to the commission to review the nomination fees to make it less cumbersome for all individuals aspiring for political positions to meet up, given the financial situation in the country at the moment.
IPAC chairman in Cross River State Engr. Effiom Edet Okon made the appeal while speaking with LEADERSHIP at the end of IPAC’s stakeholders meeting yesterday in Càlabar.
He said that pegging the nomination forms at exorbitant fees would deny individuals with capacity from joining the race just because they lacked the financial resources to join the contest.
IPAC, in a statement signed by the chairman, local government affairs and election monitoring committee, Dr Ekpeyong Ambo, secretary and two others, solicited for an extension of the election date to enable parties involved in the contest to make adequate preparations.
IPAC leadership stated that the decision to seek for extension of the election date and review of nominate fees was reached after due consultation with all stakeholders.
“We, however, ask for a one-week extension to ensure adequate preparation by all political parties.
“We equally appeal to his excellency, Senator Prince Edet Bassey Otu, to prevail on CROSIEC to review the approved nomination fees, considering the financial burden such a humongous amount may impact political party candidates.
” We restate the call for a level playing field for all political parties in the state” The statement maintained.
IPAC reinstated its willingness to cooperate with both the government and CROSIEC to ensure that elections are conducted peacefully without any hitch.
