IPAC Calls For a Peaceful Electoral Process Ahead of The 2027 Elections, Engaged Ogun 2027 Conversation Team

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Ogun State chapter, and organisers of the Ogun 2027 Conversation have called for a peaceful, transparent and credible electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

They also urged political parties and candidates seeking elective positions in the state to shun abusive campaigns and calumny and instead present clear manifestos and development plans to the electorate.

The call was made on Monday during a meeting between the Ogun 2027 Conversation team, led by its Chairman, Comrade Yinka Folarin, and the leadership of IPAC at Democracy House, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Speaking at the meeting, Folarin said the Ogun 2027 Conversation would engage governorship and National Assembly candidates ahead of the elections to examine their manifestos, programmes and plans for the development of the state.

He said IPAC was brought into the initiative because of its critical role in promoting credible elections and fostering dialogue among political parties and other stakeholders.

Folarin disclosed that governorship candidates would be engaged in Abeokuta, while National Assembly candidates would be engaged across the three senatorial districts, with Ogun Central in Abeokuta, Ogun West in Ilaro and Ogun East in Ijebu-Ode.

According to him, the National Assembly engagements would cover the three senatorial districts and the nine House of Representatives constituencies in the state, while the organisers may also engage House of Assembly candidates if time permits.

He appealed to IPAC and political parties to cooperate with the initiative, stressing that the organisers were conscious of the sensitivity of political activities ahead of the elections.

Folarin added that the organisers were considering live-streaming and broadcasting the sessions on television and other media platforms to enable residents who could not attend physically to follow the proceedings.

He said the initiative was designed to give candidates an opportunity to present their programmes directly to the people while encouraging political actors to focus on issues affecting the development and interests of Ogun State.

Also speaking, the IPAC Chairman, Comrade Abayomi Sanyaolu, expressed concern over what he described as rising political tension ahead of the 2027 elections.

Sanyaolu alleged that some political actors were already engaging in confrontations involving weapons despite the elections being months away, warning that such activities could undermine peace if not addressed.

He said IPAC was ready to collaborate with organisations committed to peace-building and electoral dialogue, adding that concerted efforts by stakeholders would be necessary to prevent violence and ensure a peaceful electoral process.

The IPAC chairman described the council's secretariat as a “Democracy House” open to candidates and citizens, but stressed that anyone seeking to govern Ogun State should be prepared to present a clear manifesto to the electorate.

He said IPAC would document promises made by candidates during the engagement and use them to hold elected officials accountable.

“If we are talking as IPAC, that this is what ‘A’ told us that he will do when he becomes governor, another group too has noted down what you are saying. So definitely you are accountable because you didn't do what you preached, so we can confront you. We are not against anybody,” Sanyaolu said.

He added that IPAC was not only for political candidates but also for citizens and organisations whose activities affect the lives of residents.

“Our IPAC House is a democracy house, it is a home that belongs to all the citizens of Ogun State. Ogun State is not at war. We don't want any candidate to be attacking each other, to use abusive words. If the war starts, you won't be able to control it again,” he said.

Sanyaolu further said voters had the responsibility to scrutinise the records and promises of aspirants, adding that the electorate would interrogate candidates to distinguish between claims and verifiable plans.

He also questioned the suitability of public office holders seeking higher positions without, in his view, demonstrating sufficient impact in their current or previous offices.

“If truly you want to govern this state, if you have never done it well when you were a Representative, when you were a Senator and you want to be Governor, you will not be a good Governor,” he said.

Sanyaolu cited healthcare as an example, questioning why some elected representatives would allegedly fail to support health facilities within their constituencies but spend heavily on campaign activities when seeking higher office.

IPAC declared its support for the Ogun 2027 Conversation, saying collaboration among political parties, civil society organisations, security stakeholders and the media would be important in maintaining peace and preserving Ogun State's reputation as the Gateway State.

The Ogun 2027 Conversation is expected to feature a candidates’ panel session where aspirants will respond to questions on their programmes, policies and plans for the state ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking on the initiative, Mr Ola Animashaun said the conversation was designed as a non-partisan platform covering the pre-election, election and post-election periods.

Animashaun said the initiative was a collaboration involving civil society organisations working on human rights, security and safety, media organisations and other relevant stakeholders.

He explained that the proposed engagement would not be structured as a conventional debate but as a panel session focused on issues, security and the development of Ogun State.