By Joe Ephraim, Calabar
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has conducted its 2026 Cross River State leadership election, with stakeholders describing the exercise as peaceful, transparent and credible.
Speaking after the election in Calabar, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Political Affairs in the Office of the Chief of Staff, Dunamis Archibong, said the exercise was part of IPAC’s annual activities as provided in its revised code.
Archibong explained that the election was conducted by the national IPAC electoral committee in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), while the Office of the Special Adviser on Inter-Party Affairs coordinated the process under the supervision of the Office of the Chief of Staff.
According to him, the exercise was aimed at strengthening peaceful coexistence among political parties in Cross River State and encouraging political leaders to place the collective interest of the state above partisan considerations.
He noted that political actors must recognise that their primary identity is as citizens of Cross River State and should therefore prioritise unity and development regardless of party affiliations.
Archibong further pointed out that the emergence of a chairman from the Action Peoples Party (APP), rather than the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), demonstrated fairness and inclusiveness in the process.
He commended the national IPAC delegation from Abuja for conducting the exercise peacefully and also appreciated the Chief of Staff, the Special Adviser on Inter-Party Affairs, security agencies and members of the media for their roles in ensuring a successful election.
Also speaking, the National Organising Secretary of the Action Peoples Party and National Legal Adviser of IPAC, Barrister Ago Bede Okukwe, described the council as the umbrella body of all political parties registered by INEC in Nigeria.
Okukwe said the primary objective of IPAC is to deepen democracy and promote collaboration among political parties across the country. He noted that the IPAC constitution provides for executive councils in every state, adding that plans are underway to extend the structure to local government areas nationwide.
According to him, politics is fundamentally grassroots-driven, and establishing IPAC structures in the country’s 774 local government areas would further strengthen democratic participation.
Assessing the exercise, Okukwe described the election as free, fair and credible, noting that while electoral contests often generate disagreements, they must always be guided by established rules and procedures.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Inter-Party Affairs, Eden Nkoyo, also commended the peaceful conduct of the election, stating that the exercise was supervised by the national leadership of IPAC led by its chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, who travelled from Abuja for the process.
Nkoyo said the orderly conduct of the election reflects the political culture of Cross River State and the leadership style of Governor Bassey Edet Otu, whom she described as committed to unity and peaceful political engagement.
During the closing session, Dantalle congratulated the re-elected chairman of the Cross River State chapter of IPAC on securing a second term in office.
He acknowledged that elections often come with disagreements but urged the leadership to remain magnanimous in victory and work with all political parties irrespective of differences.
Describing IPAC as a family of political parties, Dantalle advised the leadership to remain tolerant, patient and inclusive in carrying out its responsibilities.
In his acceptance speech, the re-elected state chairman thanked the national leadership of IPAC, the Independent National Electoral Commission, the electoral committee and party leaders in the state for the confidence reposed in him.
He also appreciated the Special Adviser on Inter-Party Affairs for facilitating collaboration among political parties and commended Governor Otu and the Chief of Staff, Emmanuel Ironbar, for supporting democratic engagement in the state.
The chairman pledged that the new executive would continue to deepen democracy in Cross River by promoting inclusive governance and ensuring that citizens’ voices are heard regardless of political affiliation.
He also assured that the council would provide constructive advice to government while working with stakeholders to sustain peace and democratic development in the state.
