Barely two weeks before the August 15 governorship election in Osun State, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has elected a new executive to steer the affairs of the council.

The Chairman of the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), Dr Tosin Odeyemi, emerged as the new IPAC Chairman through word affirmations by representatives of 15 political parties at a meeting held on Monday.

Also elected into the new executive are Prof. (Mrs) Adigun Oyewole of the African Democratic Congress (Deputy Chairman), Araoye Kazeem of Action Alliance (Secretary), Adesuyi Olufemi of the Zenith Labour Party (Publicity Secretary), Mustapha Muideen of the Labour Party (Treasurer), Dr Gbenga Afeni of the National Rescue Movement (Organising Secretary), Waheed Adediran of the All Progressives Congress (Legal Adviser), Tayo Adeyemi of the African Action Congress (Financial Secretary), and Adebayo Olasunkanmi of the Allied Peoples Movement (Deputy Secretary).

The inauguration was attended by the chairmen and representatives of several political parties, including the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and African Action Congress (AAC).

In his acceptance speech, Odeyemi pledged that the new executive would provide purposeful leadership and protect the interests of all member political parties.

He explained that IPAC was established in 2006 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in collaboration with registered political parties to promote credible, peaceful, transparent and inclusive elections, while also serving as a platform for resolving inter-party disputes and strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process.

According to him, the council has over the years maintained a close working relationship with INEC and the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) in supporting the conduct of credible elections.

Speaking on the circumstances that led to the inauguration of the new executive, Odeyemi said the tenure of the immediate past leadership, headed by Accord Party Chairman Pastor Victor Akande, had expired, while the election scheduled for March 14, 2026, could not hold because officials mandated by the national body to conduct the exercise failed to appear.

He said although the National Organising Secretary of IPAC, Chinyere O. Kalu, later assured members that a new date would be fixed, no further communication was received, creating what he described as a leadership vacuum at a critical period ahead of the governorship election.

“This prolonged silence created a dangerous vacuum, sparking concern among stakeholders as the gubernatorial election draws near.

“After due consultation, sixteen out of the twenty-two registered political parties in Osun State felt we should not allow our collective council to be hijacked by those desperate to put us in the pocket of a political party. Hence, the inauguration of this Executive Committee, with our full consent, to serve as an intermediary between the political parties and the electorate,” he said.

Odeyemi promised that the new leadership would be transparent, accountable and inclusive in its operations.

“We promise to work as a formidable team. We will represent you well, carry you along and work tirelessly to strengthen Osun IPAC without disappointing you,” he said.

He also appealed to political parties yet to identify with the new leadership to join hands with the council in promoting peaceful and credible elections in the state.

“I appeal to the party chairmen who are not here today to join hands and work together with us to move Osun State forward,” he added.

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