Cross River State chapter of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has threatened to ask the federal government to suspend the monthly allocation of funds to the 18 local government areas of the state if the state government fails to conduct local government elections before the end of three months’ deadline.
IPAC chairman in Cross River State, Engr Effiom Edet, issued the threat yesterday in Calabar during a media parley with journalists at Ernest Etim Bassey Press Centre, Calabar.
Effiom who interacted with journalists in company of other IPAC officials stated that if the government fails to conduct the elections before the end of December this year, the council will not hesitate to write to the federal government to stop sending allocations to the 18 local councils in the state.
“In line with the ruling of the Supreme Court on local government autonomy, IPAC demands that the government conduct the long-awaited local government elections before December, 2024.
“Failure to conduct the elections promptly, the council will not hesitate to ask the federal government to stop sending allocations to the 18 local government areas in the state,” he said.
IPAC commended the State House of Assembly for amending contentious sections of the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC) bill saying it reflects a broader consensus of critical stakeholders.
The council urged the governor to assent to the bill to enable the conduct of local government elections in the state.
IPAC also passed a vote of confidence on the newly constituted board of CROSIEC and charged the commission to ensure the conduct of free, fair, transparent and credible elections in the state.