An atmosphere of uncertainty on Saturday overshadowed the election of new leadership for the Inter-Party Advisory Council in Osun State following the non-appearance of members of the committee in charge of the exercise at the venue.
The election is being handled by a committee from the IPAC national secretariat in Abuja, and the exercise was scheduled to hold at the Osun State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Osogbo.
When our correspondent arrived at the venue around 11 a.m., all 19 political party chairmen had indicated their arrival by signing a register at the entrance to the INEC premises.
However, as of 2:14 p.m., when The left the venue, the exercise had not commenced, and the situation was blamed on the absence of members of the committee expected to conduct the election.
The chairman of the Booth Party, Prince Adesoji Masilo, who spoke with our correspondent while exiting the venue, said he arrived at the INEC office early, adding that members of the committee that would conduct the election had not shown up.
When contacted, the National Organising Secretary of IPAC, Chinyere Kalu, declined to explain the cause of the delay.
“We will communicate with you. Wait for us,” he said.
The representative of the African Democratic Congress, Olusola Adeoye, who is contesting for the position of Vice Chairman of Osun IPAC, also expressed concern over the absence of the electoral officers.
“Two people are contesting for the post of chairman of Osun IPAC: Tosin Odeyemi of the New Nigeria Peoples Party and Victor Akande of the Accord Party. We do not know what is happening. We have been here since 10 a.m., but those who will conduct the election are not here,” Adeoye said.
Findings by Online indicate that the incumbent chairman of Osun IPAC, Akande, who is also the chairman of the ruling party in the state, is seeking re-election.
It was also learnt that the All Progressives Congress and some other opposition parties are backing Odeyemi of the NNPP for the position.