Six political parties in Ekiti have disassociated themselves from the recently conducted election and inauguration by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC).

The election was held on April 23 at the INEC office in Ado-Ekiti.

However, the six political parties, in their protest letter, dated April 24 and addressed to the national chairman of IPAC, Yusuf Dantalle, rejected the election, describing it as null and void, saying it cannot stand.

The letter was signed by Dele Ekunola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Samuel Odeoba (Accord) and A.O. Okunade (Labour Party).

Others were Ifedayo Iyaniwura (National Rescue Movement), Moses Awogbemi (Action Peoples Party) and Omolayo Ilesanmi (Boot Party).

They said the election had been shifted several times, with the actual date not communicated to them.

The letter said, “We, the hereunder political parties, under the umbrella of Inter-Party Advisory Council, Ekiti State chapter, humbly dissociate ourselves from the election, held on April 23, 2024 at INEC Office, New Iyin Road, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti-State.

“Apart from the shift in the date of the election, there was no communication to other aspirants until few minutes to the election. This was systematically pre-planned just for their incumbent candidates to remain at the corridors of IPAC, even at the expense of what the council stands for.”

The aggrieved IPAC members added, “Pathetically, the acclaimed electoral committee, headed by one Dr Omidiji, the state chairman of ADC in Osun State, negates the principle and guidelines of IPAC which forbids any state chairman from heading electoral committee in other states.

“IPAC is a conglomeration of all registered political parties in Nigeria, with its branches across states, and where seven political parties gathered to conduct an election without the involvement of others, the whole process is not only abhorrent but grossly absurd.”

The aggrieved political parties further stated that concerned stakeholders had, on April 22, sent correspondences to the National Chairman of IPAC informing him of some members’ plan to disorganise the council in Ekiti.

The aggrieved members also claimed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), expected to be at the election, was not informed about the exercise. They called for urgent intervention of the national executives of IPAC in the controversial election.

Meanwhile, the newly-elected IPAC chairman, Daramola Owoola, denied the allegations, saying that no political party boycotted the election whose notice, he said, was duly served to all stakeholders.

Boot Party state chairman Abiodun Falana said the party participated in the election, which was also attended by its national organising secretary.

Mr Falana denied the identity of the signatory of the letter from the party, saying he was not known to the party as he was not a financial member and should, therefore, not be reckoned with. 

(NAN)