By Frank Ulom
The Ideal Progressive Movement (IPM), a grassroots support group of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has concluded its tour of the ten (10) wards in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State with a town hall meeting where Governor Bassey Edet Otu was decorated as its Grand Patron.
The meeting brought together traditional rulers, community leaders, political stakeholders and representatives from different clans across Bakassi to discuss community concerns, development priorities and the Movement’s political objectives ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The tour was organised under the leadership of AIG Chief Enene Okon (Rtd.), Chairman of IPM’s Board of Trustees, with Hon. (Princess) Christiana Eso, Executive Vice Chairman of Bakassi Local Government Area, serving as Coordinating Director and Chief Maurice Eyo as Director General.
According to the Movement, the ten-ward tour was designed to strengthen grassroots engagement by providing opportunities for direct interaction with residents and community leaders.
During the visits, IPM members listened to residents’ concerns, identified challenges facing the communities and received their expectations for development.
The Movement also distributed gifts to the communities and clans visited, describing the exercise as part of its efforts to build relationships and demonstrate solidarity with the people.
Following the conclusion of the tour, IPM convened the town hall meeting to sustain the engagement and provide a platform for wider discussions on community needs and shared development aspirations.
Governor Otu, who was represented at the meeting by the Commissioner for Information, Pastor Ekpenyong Cobham, was formally decorated as the Movement’s Grand Patron by Eso.
The conferment marked a major highlight of the gathering, reflecting IPM’s intention to strengthen its relationship with the Cross River State Government and recognise the governor’s place within the organisation.
The meeting was chaired by Engr. Eyo Ita Eyo-Ndem and attended by traditional rulers and community leaders from various clans, alongside other political and community stakeholders.
Their participation highlighted the role of traditional institutions and community representatives in articulating local concerns, promoting peace and supporting development initiatives.
The town hall meeting also provided an opportunity for the Movement to reaffirm its support for the APC’s 5/5 agenda in Bakassi ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Movement stressed the importance of unity, cooperation and sustained grassroots mobilisation in pursuing the political objective.
The completion of the ten-ward tour and the subsequent town hall meeting mark a phase in the Movement’s efforts to expand its presence across Bakassi through direct community engagement and collaboration with local stakeholders.
With Okon as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Eso as Coordinating Director and Eyo as Director General, the Movement said it would continue its grassroots engagement and mobilisation activities across the local government area, while pursuing its stated political objectives ahead of the 2027 elections.
