The Cross River State chapters of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Young Progressives Party (YPP) have distanced themselves from the endorsement of the APC led government in the state.
The parties say they are not part of the recent action by the State chapter of the Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC which passed a vote of confidence/ endorsement of the APC administration.
In separate petitions to the National Chairman of IPAC, and made available to our correspondent in Calabar, the SDP and YPP demanded the immediate dissolution of the state chapter of IPAC.
Dr. Ekpenyong E. Ambo, SDP’s Cross River State Chairman, whose petition is dated 16th May, 2025, he accused the IPAC State Chairman of breaching the organization’s Code of Conduct and misusing the platform.
“The unilateral decision to endorse a political party without consultation or mandate from all members undermines IPAC’s principles and erodes trust among its members,” Dr. Ambo said.
Dr. Ambo alleged that the current IPAC State Executive Committee, led by Engr. Edet Effiom, has compromised the organization’s integrity and credibility by misusing the platform for personal gain.
Comrade Anthony Bissong, YPP Chairman also in his petition dated 16th May , 2025 described the endorsement as “preposterous, undemocratic, and ill-intentioned” and called on IPAC’s national leadership to dissolve the State Executive Council to rescue the organization’s image.
SDP and YPP believe that IPAC’s actions have damaged the organization’s mission to foster cooperation and dialogue among political parties in the state and demand immediate action to restore IPAC’s integrity.
In his response, Engr. Edet Effiong, the Cross River State IPAC chairman said the decision to endorse the APC administration is a collective decision and they stand by it.
He maintained that IPAC is Democratic and out of 18 parties, only two parties kicked against it and does not override the collective decision of the house.
He further stressed that he is unfazed by the petition against him to the national chairman of IPAC and it’s up to the national body to review it.