By Editor
* Council talks tough about aspirants
Following election of the leadership of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Ogun State council, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, has visited the council and congratulated them on the peaceful exercise.
She stressed the importance of collaboration among political stakeholders as a means of reducing tension and preventing violence during elections.
Obasanjo spoke at the IPAC’s Secretariat in Abeokuta, the State capital as part of her consultations ahead of the 2027 governorship election in the State.
She noted that constructive dialogue and open communication among political actors remain critical to ensuring peaceful electoral processes.
Obasanjo stressed that fostering understanding among political parties and stakeholders would go a long way in strengthening democracy and promoting stability in the state.
“Collaboration reduces tension because it creates room for dialogue and open discussion of issues. Through this, problems can be addressed ahead of time, ensuring that on election day there is no violence or conflict. That, I believe, is the essence of empathetic collaboration”, he stated.
The IPAC Chairman, Abayomi Sanyaolu, while speaking to newsmen after the meeting, declared that the Council currently recognises only three individuals-Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, Hon. Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, and former UK Sarafa Tunji Isola as governorship aspirants in the state.
Sanyaolu explained that the council’s recognition is strictly based on formal engagement with IPAC, noting that only aspirants who have officially visited and interacted with the body are acknowledged.
The Chairman stressed that IPAC, which comprises chairmen of all registered political parties in the state, serves as a unifying platform where aspirants are expected to present their plans and vision for governance.
According to him, any individual claiming to be a governorship aspirant without formally appearing before the council would not be recognized by IPAC.
He said “As it stands today, we recognize only three aspirants. We have Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, we have Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, and we have Sarafa. We do not have four or five for now.
“All the political parties are together in this body, no matter where they belong. So if you want to govern a state, the Inter-Party Advisory Council stands to know your plans, whether you are able to govern or not. Because we don’t want what has happened in the past to happen again.
He said, “If you have not stepped into the IPAC secretariat to introduce yourself and speak with stakeholders, then you are not known to this body. We expect all serious aspirants, regardless of their political parties, to come forward.
Our concern at this stage is to know those who are serious and understand their plans. When the time comes, we will deliberate further based on what each aspirant brings to the table”.
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