By Ayodele Oni
Ekiti State Inter Party Advisory Council, (IPAC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of colluding with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to remove the name of the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) Dr Wole Oluyede from among candidates cleared for June Election in the state.
The Chairman, IPAC in Ekiti State, Daramola Owoola declared that without the candidate of the PDP, Dr Wole Oluyede in the ballot paper, there will no election in the state.
Owoola made the declaration on Tuesday, at the Independent National Electoral Commission office, New Iyin road, Ado Ekiti during a protest staged by members of the PDP, artisans, okada riders, ethics groups and members of other political parties against the non inclusion of Oluyede in the provisional list released last week by INEC.
The IPAC chairman stated: “I’m here to convey the message of all political parties in Ekiti State under IPAC that the moment Dr Wole Oluyede doesn’t appear on the ballot paper, forget about the forthcoming election. We are not going to participate in the election and you know what it means”.
Owoola was accompanied to the INEC office by the Chairman of the Accord Party, Phillips Oluropo Adeniji.
The leader of the delegation to INEC, Deji Ogunsakin intimated INEC that the November 8 PDP primary that produced Dr Wole Oluyede was conducted in a peaceful atmosphere without problem.
“There was no court case or injunction, we had our peaceful election without parallel election. Nigerians would want to know what happens why Dr Wole Oluyede”s name was not among the provisional list “.
“We had it on good authority that APC is working with INEC in order to disqualify PDP and I urge INEC to demonstrate neutrality”
“On behalf of Dr Wole Oluyede, I ask for due process from INEC because the primary election produced Dr Wole Oluyede without parallel election. APC has post primary cases and PDP does not. You have given us a very good advice and we shall abide by it”.
“IPAC has made it clear that they will boycott the election if the situation does not change. Ekiti people are earnestly asking for change and the incumbent is afraid of contest against other parties. We are going home to tell our supporters that we have met with you and we are going to deliver the message” Ogunsakin reiterated.
He was of the opinion that INEC will do the needful saying, “We all know that INEC will not want to truncate the process of having government in Ekiti State in 2026.
“I am happy that according to INEC, PDP followed the normal process for the conduct of the primary election and there is no reason why PDP and others should be excluded and if this stands, we shall boycott the election.”
The Head of Election and Party Monitoring, of INEC, Kehinde Mustapha welcomed the party leaders and assured that their interest would be attended to.
“In line with section 82 (2) of the electoral act, we sent representative to monitor the primary. We don’t know anything that happened later. We are with you and we appreciate the protest. On behalf of REC, we welcome you”.
The INEC Head of Department, Legal, Tunde Salako assured that the commission is working on the time frame and advised that they should go further to inform the headquarters about the development.
Salako opined: “INEC has no constitutional rights to disqualify candidate. The headquarters is in the position to explain better and as a commission that obeys the law, we don’t have option. Channel your letter or grievances to Abuja which is always in charge of this.
“Some of us are good Christians and Muslims, we are not going to be bias and we are going to be free and fair in our conduct” he assured.
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