BAYO AGBOOLA from Ibadan writes that amid preparations by the political parties and the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) for the Local Government elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is groaning under the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state
With less than eight months to another local government election in Oyo state, political parties in the state, particularly, the leading opposition, the All Progressives Congress (APC), have left no stone unturned in giving the ruling Peoples Democracy Party (PDP) a good fight in the election slated for April next year.
Groaning and grumbling
Though Oyo APC is said to have been committed to stretching its tentacles, it is no secret that, aside from preparing for the local government polls, the party is groaning and grumbling due to alleged unfair treatment it suffered in the sharing and distribution of real dividends of democracy in the area of position or appointment into the state.
The Oyo state Chairman of APC, Hon Isaac Omodewu, speaking while receiving the party’s National Chairman Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, at the state APC secretariat in Ibadan did not mince words in expressing displeasure at the way of APC was treated in the scheme so far.
Omodewu stressed that despite the ill treatment, the party was ready for the election, adding that there was no doubt in the fact that “APC remains the party to beat in the state” and that the party is set for the electioneering campaigns.
The state chairman told the National chairman, “As events which heralded the last general election are still fresh in our memory, we must inform you that Oyo APC remains an unsung hero because we got little support but we delivered beyond expectations.
Hostilities under the PDP government
“In spite of the fact we had no sitting governor in Oyo, electioneering was quite challenging as we had to face a lot of hostilities from the PDP government in the state as sponsored thugs attacked our members on many occasions.
“The same PDP hoodlums did not spare all our campaign facilities including billboards, vehicles, buildings among others, which they attacked and destroyed at will.
“All these attacks were documented and reported but unfortunately, the same people behind the attacks are now the one laying claim to our hard-earned victory at the February 25 poll.
“We have our records and we are using this medium to make a passionate appeal to your office to launch a probe into the whole matter with a view to establishing the truth. As it stands today, we are not getting fair treatment but we remain hopeful that things would change for the better”, he said.
Hon Omodewu added, “It may interest you to know that all the stakeholders have mandated us to participate in the local government council election slated for April next year in the state against all odds. We got the national secretariat in Abuja informed about this development and we swung into action accordingly.
“In line with the philosophy of our progressives family, we gave room for all interested party faithful to be part of the exercise by throwing open the expression of interest forms obtained at a ridiculous fee.
“We followed due process in the pre-primary process and capped it up with free, fair and credible primaries across the 351 wards and 33 LGAs in the state. Now, we are set for the electioneering campaigns again and we look up to you for necessary support as events unfold”.
Our exploits in 2023 general elections
“For record purpose, we did not only win all the three available senatorial seats and nine out of the the fourteen House of Representatives seats, we wrapped it up with a massive 449,884 votes for our presidential candidate only for usl to be victims over night. However, we are not ready to lose focus as a progressive family.
“We intensified efforts to reconcile all our former members who left in the wake of the last general election and we shall not leave any stone unturned to achieve our goal of a stronger, better and more virile Oyo APC very soon. Few weeks ago, we received the gubernatorial candidates of Labour Party (LP) and Action Peoples Party (APP) as well as a good population of their supporters into the progressives family and this is an eloquent testimony to the fact that APC remains the party to beat in the state.
Pledge of loyalty
“Finally, your gesture to pay an official visit to our state secretariat today will go down well in history and we shall never take it for granted. We use this opportunity to reiterate our confidence in your leadership and we assure you of our immaculate loyalty, unflinching support and cooperation Senayou take our great party to the next level of greater heights and all round success.
“We also use this medium to express our support and optimism for the Renewed Hope mantra of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) as he and his able Vice, Kashim Shettima (GCON) remain committed to the task of a stable, flourishing and prosperous Nigeria.
Deductions
True to Hon Omodewu’s words, it is a known fact that APC leaders in and across Oyo state are now busy around the nooks and crannies of state mending fences and as well sensitising its members on the party’s determination to relaunch itself into the political firmament of the state in April next year by winning more councils to prepare the much needed ground for 2027 governorship election in the state.
Oyo APC state publicity secretary, Comrade Wale Sadare said APC is now ready to participate in the councils’ poll as majority opinion at the party’s stakeholders meeting was in support of the party fielding candidates for the council poll.
Sadare said, “The unanimous decision at the stakeholder meeting at our (Oke-Ado) state secretariat was that we would participate with a view to winning most of the available seats in the local government areas and local council development areas.
“We are progressives in politics and we are always ready to play our part as democrats. Don’t forget that the main duty of political parties is to field candidates in major elections. We have had to face serious pressure from party faithful who want to contest and serve the masses at the grassroots as council chairmen and councilors.
“We have seen what the present administration has turned the third tier of government into in the last four years and it is now imperative for the APC to rescue the situation.
Even Governor Makinde said it openly that he was not in support of autonomy for local government and this explains why he does not allow the council administrators to function as expected.”
OYSIEC promises free, fair election
Chairman of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju, (SAN) on his part said that the mandate of the commission as a state electoral umpire is to conduct local government councils election within the limit of the law and that there would be no going back in the readiness of the commission to conduct a free, fair, transparent and credible elections, come 2024.
Featuring on a live radio programme last weekend in Ibadan, the OYSIEC Chairman said all the decisions taken by the commission were in accordance with the electoral law.
“By the provision of the law, we have to issue notice of election and timetable 360 days before election day, and we have done this. By our record, we have 18 registered political parties in the state, all of them have been served the election timetable, by God’s grace, by 27th April 2024 there will be an election in the state.
“Lack of trust and confidence is responsible for apathy during local government councils election, our people should show concern and participate in the forthcoming election. We seek the cooperation and understanding of residents of the state, our people should please come out on election day and vote, we are assuring that your vote will count”.
Going by the situation on ground, Oyo state APC leadership are bent every moment at forging ahead in regaining its lost grip, glory and winning stride come the next local government election in the state which no doubt serve as real measurements and determinant of what becomes of the party in Oyo state in the coming years and further elections in the years ahead.
