Akpabio breaks 59-year-old jinx, elected to global executive committee of IPU

The President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpiabio, has been elected to the Executive Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

Mr. Anietie Ekong, his Special Assistant on Media and Communication, said this in a statement in Abuja.

Ekong said that Akpabio was elected by delegates across the world to emerge as an executive committee member of the global parliamentary union for a three year mandate.

Anietie said Akpabio, who led Nigeria’s delegation to the 147th Inter-Parliamentary Union General Assembly in Luanda, Angola, broke a 59-year-old jinx with his election into the executive committee of the global parliamentary body.

He said the last time a Nigerian was elected into the executive committee of the parliamentary union was in 1964.

“Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the IPU is the global organisation of national parliaments founded in 1889 and dedicated to promoting peace through parliamentary diplomacy and dialogue.

“It has grown over its 135 years into a truly global organisation with 179 country members out of 193 countries in the world.

“The IPU facilitates parliamentary diplomacy and empowers parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy, and sustainable development around the world.

“The 147th IPU Assembly was held in Luanda, Angola, from October 21st to October 27th, 2023, and was hosted by the National Assembly of Angola,” he said.

Anietie said the union, in the week-long assembly, deliberated on important issues affecting nations across the world and considered actions to strengthen trust between people and governance structures.

He said the deliberations were designed to make public institutions more effective, accountable, and representative to better equip parliaments to address multiple geopolitical, economic, and environmental crises facing the world.