The Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, in Osun State on Monday inaugurated a new 9-man executive led by Dr Tosin Odeyemi of the Democratic Leadership Alliance, DLA.
The parties said the action was necessary to fill a leadership vacuum ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
Fifteen of the 22 registered political parties in the state affirmed Odeyemi and eight others during the event held in Osogbo.
In his acceptance speech, Odeyemi said IPAC was established in 2006 by INEC to promote free, fair, credible and peaceful elections, and to foster democratic cooperation among parties.
He noted that IPAC in Osun had historically worked with INEC and OSIEC to support credible polls.
He explained that following the expiration of the last executive headed by Pastor Victor Akande, two members indicated interest to contest for chairman. Akande sought re-election, while Odeyemi also stepped forward.
According to Odeyemi, the election scheduled for March 14, 2026 was stalled due to the absence of committee members mandated to conduct it. He said the National Organising Secretary of IPAC, Chinyere O. Kalu, later informed stakeholders of a postponement, but no new date has been communicated since then.
“This vacuum is causing concern among stakeholders, particularly with the gubernatorial election approaching. The absence of a functioning IPAC raises a critical question: who will serve as the official mouthpiece for political parties in the engagements and consultations preceding the election?” he asked.
He said after due consultation, the parties decided not to allow the council to be “hijacked by those desperate to put us in the coven of a political party.”
“Hence the inauguration of this Executive Committee, with our full consent, to serve as intermediary between the Political Parties and electorates,” he added.
Other elected officials are Prof. Adigun Oyewole, ADC, Deputy Chairman; Araoye Kazeem, AA, Secretary; Adesuyi Olufemi, ZLP, Publicity Secretary; Mustapha Muideen, LP, Treasurer; Gbenga Afeni, NRM, Organising Secretary; Waheed Adediran, APC, Legal Adviser; Tayo Adeyemi, AAC, Financial Secretary; and Adebayo Olasunkanmi, APM, Deputy Secretary.
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