ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Anthony Bissong Attah, the chairman of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in Cross River State has been elected as the chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council in the state (IPAC).
Attah polled 12 votes out of 16 during an election which was supervised by a delegation from Abuja led by the national chairman of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, Yusuf Dantalle, who is the national secretary of IPAC.
By the re-election, Attah, who had previously held the office for one term, replaces Ambassador Ogar Osim, Chairman of Labour Party (LP) who, over a year ago, won the election to defeat Attah.
The conduct of the election at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, was directed by the national headquarters of IPAC in a letter dated 22 August 2022 and signed by Alhaji Yabagi Yusuf Sani, national chairman of IPAC.
Also, a similar election was also directed to hold in five other states, including the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Benue, Kwara, Ebonyi, and Ekiti, according to the letter, which was addressed to the national chairman of INEC in Abuja.
In Cross River State, the head of the department of EPM at INEC, Mrs Emeh, alongside Department of State Security (DSS) officials, witnessed Attah’s re-election.
Fielding questions from journalists on whether his re-election will boost the chances of the YPP at next year’s state House of Assembly election where he has a candidate, Attah said, “The electorate will decide”.
Attah in a statement said, “I am grateful to all my colleagues and the entire State for the massive support and confidence reposed in me. Though it was a contest, but for me, it’s no victor, no vanquish.
”I’m ready to work with all political stakeholders as we approach the all-important 2023 general elections. We must work together to ensure a hitch-free general election to retain the peaceful status the state is known for.
“This victory is dedicated to Cross River State and the glory belongs to God Almighty.”
Confirming the re-election of Attah, Ogar said, “I voluntarily took up the position of deputy chairman which was vacant.
“I listened to voices of reasoning not to actively participate in the election so as to give absolute concentration to building Labour Party, and that I should not completely leave IPAC.”