From Ibadan, BAYO AGBOOLA reports that preparations for the 2024 local government elections have started in earnest, the Oyo state Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), having released the timetable and schedule of activities.
Politicians in Oyo state are back to the trenches again barely six months after the 2023 general elections, this time around, they are out for election into the 33 local government areas of the state already slated for next year, 2024.
The timetable
According to the time-table released by the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), the election will hold on Saturday 27th of April 2024 while the run off election will hold on Monday 4th election 2024.
OYSIEC in a notice by its Chairman, Aare Isiaka Isola Olagunju, the process for the next local government election commences on 28th of April 2023 while conduct of primary election will be between june 19 and july 24 2023.
Parties’ preparation
Upon this, politicians in the state, particularly, from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are leaving no stone unturned at meeting up with the laid down timetable by OYSIEC with the battle for securing chairmanship and councillors across the 33 local government areas of the state.
It is no longer news that it has been a titanic battle within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership and membership in Oyo state.
For example in Ogbomoso North local government, a stakeholders meeting to select a consensus candidate for the Chairmanship position in the forthcoming local government election ended in a deadlock.
This was over allegations of removal of names of some leaders said to be loyal to one of the Chairmanship aspirants in the council with those said to be loyalists of one of the aspirants faulting the claim.”
While it has been a fair game for some, it is complaint galore for others alleging imposition of candidates by some power blocs in the state ranging from Ibadan, Ogbomosho, Oke Ogun and other areas in the state amidst chains of accusations and counter accusations amongst politicians in the parties.
However, the party’s publicity secretary in Oyo state, Engineer Akeem Olatunji, while speaking on a live radio programme on penultimate Thursday said PDP remained one body in Oyo state regardless of the ongoing disagreement over the selection of candidates for next year’s local government election and that in a matter of weeks, the storm on the selection will be over.
On the part of the main opposition political party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC), there seems to be total silence on the planned January polls in the state.
Though the party publicity secretary in Oyo state, Comrade Wale Sadare when contacted said for now, APC as a political party was yet to take any stand on the coming local government election, he further said, “the party at the state executive level is yet to meet on it for now, so, the party has no position on it”.
Parties’ readiness
Chairman of Inter Party Advisory Council in Oyo state, (IPAC), Apostle Dare Ojo at a meeting with leaders of political parties and stakeholders in the state disclosed that “all political parties in the state including the APC are ready to participate in the local government election as long as we have a common goal”.
He also stressed that the need for proper planning and better orientation of key players in the election process would go a long way in achieving a peaceful election.
Apostle Ojo said all the political parties in the state should not see the elections as a do-or-die affair but develop the spirit of sportsmanship while going into the polls and that all OYSIEC leadership should do was to synergize with relevant stakeholders and intensify efforts in educating the populace on the need to embrace local government elections to record massive turnout on election day.
“The meeting was encouraging and most of the political parties were on ground. We brainstormed on how the last local government election went, how to prepare for the next one. All political parties would participate, including the APC, as long as we have a common goal.
My submission is that political leaders should have the spirit of sportsmanship, and we take that spirit to the election day. We should be able to see it as a football competition when two people are playing, one has to win, one has to lose.For OYSIEC, all election materials should be on deck on election day, adequate publicity on recruitment of ad-hoc staff and training are essential”
Charge to play by the rules
Chairman of Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju, SAN, on his part charged political parties and relevant stakeholders in and across the state to play according to the rule in the coming local government election in the state as OYSIEC is committed to conducting a free, fair and credible elections.
Emphasising that political parties and other relevant stakeholders in the state should be ready to play according to the rule in the interest of the state for a free, fair and credible elections, Aare Olagunju (SAN), said “the commission can only achieve success with your support and cooperation.
“The government in all fairness is ready to conduct the election. We did our best during the last local government council elections, what is important is to have a common goal of serving the people, we are all human beings, we should be united and endeavor to do the right thing at all times”.
Need to trust the OYSIEC
Aare Olagunju while urging the political parties leaders and stakeholders to appeal to their people to have trust in the commission, said, “if you have a credible candidate, definitely, that person will win; on our part at the commission, we won’t compromise and that serving the people accordingly should be a common goal, which all political parties should strive to attain, and that the commission will continually engage the political parties and other relevant stakeholders for a successful poll.”
Though, to some people, April 2024 is a bit far, but for politicians, the journey to the election period has come and should be taken more seriously by all those that are into real business of politics in Oyo state as the election is expected to serve as popularity test for political parties in the state among others.
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