Breaking: IPAC Rescinds Decision To Boycott Osun LG Poll

By Rafiu Agboola, Osogbo

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Osun has backed pedal on its earlier decision to boycott Local Government elections in the state slated for February 22, 2025.

IPAC is the umbrella body of political parties in the state.

Inter-Party Advisory Council had on Monday July 15, 2024 announced the withdrawal of 16 parties from the February 22, 2025, Osun State local government election.

The parties said they decided to boycott the election because they had lost confidence in the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC Commission Chairman, Ashim Abioye.

CityMirrorNews recalls that the parties alleged that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had finalised plans to use its members as electoral officers during the election. The group also accused OSIEC of deliberately hoarding information about the exercise from the opposition parties.

However, on Tuesday, the parties took a look at political happenings in Osun and after series of meetings with those they described as stakeholders, decided to actively participate in the elections to allow members of their parties exercise their democratic rights and take shots into elective offices in the Local Government councils.

Addressing journalists in Osogbo, on Tuesday, Chairman Victor Akande, said that all the sixten political parties that earlier took the decision are now ready and fully committed to give their members the ample opportunity to participate in the elections, saying the parties will field candidates to all the political offices.

He said: “After a fruitful deliberation with stakeholders in Osun state, we are glad to inform the general public that we have rescinded earlier decision on the forthcoming local government poll.

“OSIEC Chairman, Barrister Hashim Abioye, has shown to have a listening ear and ready to work with us.

“We hereby wish to tell the good people of Osun that we are ready to participate in the election.

“We have submitted our letter of intention in conducting our parties’ primary election.

“We wish to appreciate Governor Ademola Adeleke and other stakeholders for their timely intervention on the matter.

“Political parties involved in this include Action Alliance, African Democratic
Congress, Accord Party, Social Democratic Party, African Action Congress, New Nigeria Peoples Party, Allied Peoples Party and the Peoples Redemption Party.

“Others are All Progressives Grand Alliance, Zenith Labour Party, Action
Democratic Party, Action Peoples Party, Labour Party, Boot Party, National
Rescue Movement and Young Peoples Party”.