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From Priscilla Ediare, Ado Ekiti
Members of the Inter-Party Advisory Council(IPAC) Ekiti State chapter have elected new executives to oversee the affairs of the Council.
The election took place on Friday at the premises of the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), along new Iyin road, Ado-Ekiti, in the presence of Mr Austin N. Orogbu, Head of Election and Party Monitoring Department (INEC), Ekiti State, who was represented by Mr Idowu Kazeem, Desk officer, Election and Party Monitoring Department (INEC), Ekiti State.
The newly elected officers numbering six are to oversee the affairs of the Council for two years, they include, Mr Owoola Dararmola of Young Progressives Party (YPP), as Chairman, who polled thirteen votes out of thirteen voters, Chief Sam Abiola of Accord as Deputy Chairman, Mr Dada Olayinka of New Nigeria People’s Party(NNPP), Secretary
Others are Chief Olufemi Eponlolaye of Action Democratic Party,(ADP) as Public Relations Officer(PRO), Deacon Joseph Anifowose of Action Alliance(AA) as Organising Secretary and Engr. Akindahunsi Daniel of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Treasurer.
Earlier, Mr Dipo Olayoku, member of the Electoral Committee from IPAC’s National Headquarters, Abuja, charged the new excos to discharge their duties with a view to deepening Nigeria’s democracy.
Olayoku, who is also the National Secretary of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), gave the charge at the swearing-in of the elected officers, held at the same venue as the election.
Olayoku said, ” IPAC is a platform that provides an opportunity for all political parties in Nigeria to share opinions, rub minds and put heads together as a way of sustaining and deepening our democracy. And we believe that in every set-up, there must be leadership, and that is why the IPAC constitution recognises leadership at both the national and state levels.
“And as a way of deepening democracy, we always organise this type of election. This implies you seek and receive the consent of the people you want to lead.”
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In his acceptance speech, the Chairman, Owoola Daramola, said: “Today is a watershed in the history of politics in Ekiti State as I gladly accept the responsibility of being the new Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Ekiti State chapter, which is the statutory umbrella body of all the registered political parties.
“I have always believed in participatory, all-inclusive governance as a panacea for healthy growth and development of any nation and state.
“As stakeholders in the Ekiti project, even though we all belong to different political parties, I intend to galvanise us all to help the government in rebuilding the state.
“We are first and foremost Ekiti people and we must work together for the prosperity of our people.
“I wish to state clearly, that to encourage healthy governance; we will not shy away from speaking truth to power whenever the need arises.
“I enjoin you all to cooperate with me to steer the ship of this organisation well.
“I promise to serve you with all my heart and in the words of Williams Shakespeare, when we finish our term, the Ekiti people can say, this is our finest hour.”
Daramola, who is the chairman of YPP in the state took over from the outgone chairman, Mr Ifedayo Iyaniwura.
Iyaniwura is the NRM chairman in Ekiti State.
All Progressives Congress (APC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and Labour Party (LP) were among the registered political parties that were consciously absent at the election venue, hence did not participate in the poll.
Political parties that participated in the election include, Social Democratic Party (SDP), People’s Redemption Party(PRP), Action Alliance (AA), Action Democratic Party(ADP), Accord(A), Young Progressives Party(YPP), African Democratic Congress (ADC),
Others are Action People’s Party (APP) Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), New Nigeria People’s Party(NNPP), African Action Congress(AAC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and National Rescue Movement (NRM).
