The Ogun State chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council has rejected the purported appointment of Comrade Abayomi Arabambi as Chairman of the Inter-Party Committee by the All Progressives Congress Campaign Council.
The council, in a statement issued by its Chairman, Comrade Dr Abayomi Sanyaolu, at its state secretariat in Ijemo, Abeokuta, on Wednesday, said the appointment by the APC Campaign Council could not confer on Arabambi any mandate to represent or speak for the inter-party community in Ogun State.
IPAC said while the APC Campaign Council was at liberty to appoint anyone to serve on its committees, such an appointment should not be interpreted as authorising Arabambi to interface with political parties on behalf of IPAC or the wider inter-party community.
According to the council, Arabambi lacked the pedigree, integrity and locus to superintend or engage political parties on inter-party matters in the state.
IPAC said it would ordinarily not comment on an internal appointment by another political organisation but was compelled to issue the clarification over concerns that Arabambi might allegedly use a purported relationship with the council to mislead members of the public.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Ogun State Chapter of IPAC wishes to clarify that Abayomi Arabambi has lost the credibility and credentials required to discuss or superintend over inter-party affairs, particularly as he is currently without a recognised political party affiliation,” the statement said.
The council further claimed that Arabambi was not listed on the website of the Independent National Electoral Commission as either a national or state officer of any registered political party in Nigeria.
It maintained that IPAC’s activities were conducted in collaboration with and monitored by INEC, stressing that participation in inter-party affairs should be anchored on recognised political party structures and credentials.
The council consequently urged the Ogun State leadership of the APC to carry out what it described as a diligent background check on Arabambi before assigning him any further public-facing responsibility relating to inter-party affairs.
IPAC said its clarification was aimed at preventing what it described as possible misrepresentation of the council’s identity, structure and activities.
The statement was signed by Sanyaolu, Chairman, Ogun State IPAC.
