An air of uncertainty overshadowed the Osun State Inter-Party Advisory Council election on Saturday after members of the committee responsible for overseeing the exercise failed to appear at the venue.
The election, organised by a committee from the IPAC national secretariat in Abuja, was scheduled to hold at the Osun State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Osogbo.
When our correspondent arrived around 11 a.m., all 19 political party chairmen had signed in at the INEC office, confirming their presence. However, by 2:14 p.m., when reporters left the venue, the election had not started due to the absence of the committee members expected to conduct it.
Prince Adesoji Masilo, chairman of the Booth Party, said he arrived early at the INEC office but noted that “members of the committee that would conduct the election had not shown up.”
When contacted, IPAC’s National Organising Secretary, Chinyere Kalu, declined to provide details about the delay, stating: “We will communicate with you. Wait for us.”
Olusola Adeoye, representing the African Democratic Congress and contesting for the position of Vice Chairman of Osun IPAC, expressed concern over the absence of the electoral officers. “Two people are contesting for the post of chairman of Osun IPAC: Tosin Odeyemi of the New Nigeria Peoples Party and Victor Akande of the Accord Party. We do not know what is happening. We have been here since 10 a.m., but those who will conduct the election are not here,” he said.
Report stated that the incumbent Osun IPAC chairman, Akande, who also chairs the ruling party in the state, is seeking re-election. It was also learnt that the All Progressives Congress and some opposition parties are backing Odeyemi of the NNPP for the position.
