The scheduled election for new leaders of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Osun State was abruptly halted on Saturday after the designated electoral committee failed to appear at the venue.
The poll, set to begin at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Osogbo, saw early attendance from representatives of the state’s 19 registered political parties. Chairmen from these parties signed an attendance register by late morning, signalling readiness for the exercise. However, the process could not commence as officials from the national IPAC secretariat in Abuja, tasked with conducting the election, were conspicuously absent.
For hours after the planned start time, party leaders and delegates waited without explanation. Prince Adesoji Masilo, Chairman of the Boot Party in Osun, confirmed his early arrival only to find the committee missing. “The members of the committee assigned to conduct the election have not shown up,” Masilo stated.
Attempts to reach the national IPAC leadership for comment yielded limited information. Chinyere Kalu, National Organising Secretary, declined to specify the reason for the delay when contacted, simply stating, “We will communicate with you. Wait for us.”
The uncertainty drew concern from contestants. Olusola Adeoye of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), who is vying for the position of state vice-chairman, noted that everyone had been waiting since 10 a.m. He identified the two main contenders for the state chairmanship: Tosin Odeyemi of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the incumbent, Victor Akande of the Accord Party.
The election’s postponement leaves the current IPAC leadership, headed by Akande, in place amid reported political manoeuvring. The All Progressives Congress (APC) is among parties supporting Odeyemi’s challenge, highlighting the contest’s significance for intra-party dynamics in the state.
The stalled election underscores operational challenges within Nigeria’s inter-party coordination framework. A new date is anticipated, but no official rescheduling has been announced. The outcome will determine IPAC’s state leadership, a body that often mediates between parties and electoral authorities, making the delay a notable event in Osun’s political calendar.
