Cross River community impresses on producing next Ikom LGA Council Chairman

As momentum builds for the local government election in Cross River State, different groups are angling to assert their interests.

In this context, the people of Olulumo community in Ikom LGA have insisted on producing the next chairman of the council, citing long-standing neglect and denial.

The Opinion Voice of Ikom Leadership, a pressure group and non-governmental organization, conducted research which showed that “Out of eleven wards, eight have benefited from or produced elected Council chairmen, while three wards—Akparabong, Olulumo, and Ofutop—have neither benefited nor produced a chairman.

“Olulumo Ward is yet to benefit from or produce an elected Chairman for Ikom Local Government Council since 1999.”

According to their research and opinion polls, 87% of respondents strongly suggest that Olulumo is the most preferred ward to produce the next chairman.

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The research aimed to identify the most preferred ward for the next chairman and which wards have produced what officials.

“After a painstaking and unbiased opinion poll across the wards and from members of the public for over six months, we focused our findings on the most preferred ward for the next elective local government elections for Ikom Local Government Council.

“It is on record that Akparabong community has an elected member of the State Assembly, a Commissioner, and the Secretary of Ikom Urban, while Ofutop Ward 1 has the State Deputy Chairman for APC and a Senior Special Adviser to the State Governor.

“On this note, on behalf of the entire members of Opinion Voice of Ikom Leadership, we have voted and zoned the next Ikom Council Chairman to Olulumo Ward.”

Their statement was signed by 10 officials of the Forum, including Pastor Tony Bassey (Chairman), Njor Collins Adekpe (Secretary), as well as Okim Okim Ogoro, Prince Atep Odo, Oguda Thankgod E., Bojor Oben Neji, Richard Agbor, Ekawon E. Ekawon, Odo Assam, and Ojen Catherine Bassey.

They said, “This is our position and the position of the majority in Ikom. Olulumo Ward should produce the next Ikom Council Chairman in the interest of equity and fairness.”