BY VICTOR NWEGEDE
Comrade Obasi James Alina of the Action Alliance, has emerged Chairman, Ebonyi State Chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, following the Council's 2021/2022 election held on Friday at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Abakaliki.
The Chairman was successfully elected and inaugurated alongside other officials of the Council, including Nwaze Ernest of APC as the Deputy Chairman and Nchita Samuel Akahite of ADP as the Secretary.
Other officers are Ohakam Kate Chiegeonu of APM - Deputy State Secretary, Okorouka Ricky El-Stephen Otu of APGA - Treasurer, Nwite Celestine of NRM - Financial Secretary, Austin Ituma Nweze of SDP - Publicity Secretary, Nwode Philemon Sunday of PRP - Organising Secretary, and George Maduabuchi of APP - Legal Adviser.
Before the commencement of the election, there was agitation of exclusion by representative of the Chairman of the PDP, Prince Tochukwu Okorie and his counterpart of ADC, Comrade Morgan Nwogba, who submitted their written petitions against the exercise to the IPAC national representatives.
Speaking after the inauguration of the newly elected officers, the IPAC National Organising Secretary, Agbeola Martins described the agitation by some members of the State Council as a legal way of registering their grievances.
He promised the agitators that their petitions will be sent to the appropriate quarters to look into the matter.
Agbeola however, stated that the IPAC leadership at the national level will never undermine its constitutional provisions as regards the observations of the electoral officers during the election, including the alleged forgery of signatures by the agitators against the exercise in their petitions.
"I think the agitation can be tagged as legal. It is within their rights to raise objection especially on the issue of unlawful exclusion.
"They have admitted their position and I can assure you that it will get to the relevant authourity in Abuja, which is appeal committee. It will be treated and of course, the right thing will be done.
"As concerned the forgery of signatures in their petitions, the position of IPAC is the position of law. I think the relevant provision of law concerning forgery will be straightly followed and whoever is culpable, will face the wrath of the law," Egbeola said.
On her part, the Special Assistant to the Governor of Ebonyi State, Comrade Mrs Jennifer Adibe-Nwafor, noted that the election was conducted because of the amendment of the IPAC Constitution, allowing the elected officials to stay two years in office.
She said the election was held following the presence and support of the greater qorum of the 17 registered political parties in the state.
Mrs Adibe-Nwafor, who is the State Chairman of the NPP, described the allegations coming from the representatives of PDP and ADP, as a calculated attempt to forment trouble during the exercise.
She however, thanked God that the election was later conducted peacefully and advised the new executives of the state IPAC to carry all their members along, with a full assurance of law to take its course against the illegalities portrayed by any of the members during the exercise.
Meanwhile, the newly elected IPAC Chairman in the state, Comrade Obasi James Alina, has promised not to take the responsibility forgranted.
"I therefore, see this responsibility as one that must not be taken nonchalantly or for granted. I promise to represent you with the utmost transparency, accountability, integrity and honesty....
I see my election today, not as a victory for me and my party, but a victory for IPAC in Ebonyi State, a victory for IPAC in Nigeria and most importantly, a victory for all of us," Obasi promised.
Recall that the election was observed by INEC officials led by the Ebonyi State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Chukwuemeka Joseph Chukwu, who commended the outcome of the exercise.
