Inter-Party Advisory Council, an umbrella body encompassing all political parties in Osun State, has declared its decision to abstain from participating in the upcoming local government elections in the region.
The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) had scheduled the local government elections for February 22, 2025.
Victor Akande, the Chairman of IPAC in the state, emphasized that the withdrawal was deemed necessary due to the council’s lack of trust in the integrity of Ashim Abioye, the chairman of OSIEC, to oversee a transparent local government election in the state.
He argued that when Governor Ademola Adeleke nominated a staunch member of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Barrister Hassim Abioye, to the House of Assembly for confirmation as the OSIEC chairman in November 2023, they vehemently opposed it. At that time, the Osun chapter of IPAC contended that Abioye was not legally qualified to conduct an impartial and credible local government election in Osun. They opposed the blatant imposition of Abioye as the election umpire, given his previous role as Adeleke’s Senior Special Assistant on Legal Matters.
Akande highlighted that Abioye has failed to provide them with timely updates, unlike the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), despite his assurances to uphold his integrity during a meeting earlier in the year.
The Osun IPAC alleged that Abioye has orchestrated a scheme to appoint PDP members as Electoral Officers during the election, a move they view as problematic.
“We are inclined to believe that the PDP-led administration in the state is deliberately fostering conditions for unrest to deter people from participating in the upcoming council election, as only those with a sense of security will venture out to cast their votes for their preferred candidates,” Akande remarked.
The political parties involved in this decision include Action Alliance, African Democratic Congress, Accord Party, Social Democratic Party, African Action Congress, New Nigeria Peoples Party, Allied Peoples Party, and the Peoples Redemption Party.
Furthermore, the list comprises All Progressives Grand Alliance, Zenith Labour Party, Action Democratic Party, Action Peoples Party, Labour Party, Boot Party, National Rescue Movement, and Young Peoples Party,”Akande added.
However, the chairman of OSIEC refuted the accusations leveled against him, asserting his commitment to conducting free, fair, and credible elections in the state.
