IPAC raised concerns about the alleged partiality of Barrister Hassim Abioye, Chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC). It alleged that Abioye is a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the ruling party in the state.
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Osun State announced on Monday its decision to withdraw from participating in the forthcoming local government elections.
IPAC raised concerns about the alleged partiality of Barrister Hassim Abioye, Chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC). It alleged that Abioye is a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the ruling party in the state.
IPAC, representing various political parties in the state, expressed deep reservations about Abioye's dual roles, alleging that his affiliation with the ruling PDP undermines the credibility of OSIEC in conducting a fair and unbiased election.
Speaking during a press conference on Monday, IPAC Chairman Pastor Victor Akande, who also serves as the state chairman of the Accord Party, stated that IPAC does not have confidence in the leadership of Abioye.
He alleged that Abioye would serve as a puppet for the PDP before, during, and after the elections.
He said, “Our position then, as the Osun chapter of IPAC, is that Abioye is not legally fit to conduct free, fair, and credible local government elections in Osun. We opposed the brazen imposition of Abioye as the INEC umpire since he was (Governor Ademola) Adeleke’s senior special assistant on legal matters.
“Earlier this year, Abioye invited us to the headquarters of OSIEC in Osogbo, where we made known our reservations for the February 22, 2025, council election, and he thereafter pledged his allegiance to protect his integrity and promised not to disappoint us.
“But alas, the leopard in him that cannot change its spots roared as we watched him deviate from all his promises of conducting a reliable election in the state. We have reliably gathered that Abioye has perfected plans to use PDP members as electoral officers during the election, which we all know what it means.
“His intention is to trap us into conducting our parties’ primary elections without disclosing the amount each party will pay, which will, of course, lead to efforts in futility after announcing exorbitant fees.
“We expected up-to-date information from Abioye, as has been done by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but the reverse is the case, as we always have information about Osun local government elections from PDP e-rats.
“We find it convenient to say that the PDP-led administration in the state is intentionally creating avenues for crises all over so as to scare our people away from the forthcoming council election, as only a secured mind will have the courage to go out to vote for his/her choice.
“One of us, the NNPP, that earlier wrote an intention letter for his party’s primary election has withdrawn the letter because we realised no good thing can come out of Abioye, who is Governor Adeleke’s stooge at OSIEC.”
“It is on these notes that we have resolved, after deliberations with our party members, to back out of the forthcoming local government election in Osun State,” he added.