Six political parties in Ekiti have dissociated themselves from the recently conducted election and inauguration by Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC).
The election was held on April 23 at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ado-Ekiti.
However, the six political parties, in their protest letter, dated April 24 and addressed to the National Chairman of IPAC, Alhaji Yusuf Dantalle, rejected the election, describing it as null and void, saying it cannot stand.
The letter was signed by Dr Dele Ekunola of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Samuel Odeoba (Accord) and Mr A.O. Okunade (Labour Party).
Others were: Mr Ifedayo lyaniwura (National Rescue Movement), Chief Moses Awogbemi (Action Peoples Party) and Pastor Omolayo llesanmi (Boot Party).
They said that the election had been shifted several times, with the actual date not communicated to them.
“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.
“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,” they said in the letter.
The aggrieved political parties further stated that concerned stakeholders had, on April 22, sent correspondences to the National Chairman of IPAC, informing him of the plan by some members to disorganise the council in the state.
“The national chairman promised not only to oversee IPAC election in Ekiti State, but to conduct a free and fair election that all stakeholders will be happy with.
“Until that is seen not only to be done, but with free, fair and credible openness, we humbly disassociate our parties from this recklessness and illegality.
“This is an election that ought to have involved all the 18 registered political parties that have presence in Ekiti State,” they said.
The aggrieved members also claimed that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that was 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, Mr Daramola Owoola, denied the allegations, saying that no political party boycotted the election whose notice, he said, was duly served to all stakeholders.
“Nobody boycotted the election. NRM Chairman was suspended over alleged misappropriation, while SDP had completed their two terms as chairman and the party is yet to notify the council of a new representative.
“Labour party, however, obtained form and duly registered for the election and the other political parties’ chairmen were present at the election,” Owoola said.
Buttressing Owoola, the state Chairman of Boot Party, Mrs Abiodun Falana, said that the party was part of the election, which was also attended by its National Organising Secretary.
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.