BAYO AGBOOLA in Ibadan reports that emotions associated with Saturday, May 22 local government polls in Oyo state will continue to reverberate as All Progressives Congress (APC) agonises over refusal by Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) to shift the election date
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Pre-election legal tussle
The May 22 local government election conducted by the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) has come and gone but not without leaving behind its rumbles both ugly and otherwise in the annals of Oyo state.
Those who witnessed the election said it stands out as one of the most controversial local government polls so far held in the state in the recent times. But others disagree saying it heralded an era of maturity by the stakeholders who conducted themselves in an orderly manner.
Despite the fact that the people of Oyo state yearned for democratically elected chairmen and councillors at the grassroots, the desire was waned by protracted legal battles between Governor Seyi Makinde led administration and the elected local government chairmen and councillors sacked by the administration few hours after he assuming office.
The legal tussle, analysts said, clearly messed up the expected glamour which ought to characterise the election and its processes.
Though the legal battle which dragged up to the Supreme Court has come and gone and the apex court finally laid to a permanent rest the issue of dissolution of local governments elected officials by state governors on May 7, the ghost of the legal battle hunted the May 22 election.
Uproar over unfortunate incidents
Now that local government elections have come and gone, it’s ripples reverberate as observers said the violence, apathy and various hitches across the state would remain green in the minds of Oyo indigenes.
Starting from the uproar in Ogbomoso that greeted the crushing to death of a four year-old girl by a Mattis car allegedly owned by a PDP chieftain from Ibadan during the party’s campaign rally, to Ibarapa East, precisely Eruwa where two youths, (a lady and a boy) were reportedly shot dead on the election day, the elections were riddled in controversy.
Also at Ogo-Oluwa/Ido local government the logo of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) was missed out on the ballot papers, forcing OYSIEC to shift the election in the local government to the following day (Sunday) to mention but few, it was indeed barrage of confusion.
Opposing views on the processes, conduct
Amidst the controversies, opinion of major stakeholders in the election- the politicians- are still varied. Some hailed the election processes as well as its conduct while others condemned the entire process.
A candidate in the election, Honourable Tajudeen Adigun Adeniyi , who contested for the Vice Chairmanship position in Ibadan South West Local Government Area, said, “the May 22, stands as the most peaceful, free and fair local government election ever conducted in the history of Oyo state since 1979. It remains the best in the history of the state, as the election devoid of violence, ballot box snatching and wielding of dangerous weapons.”
PDP Deputy National Chairman, South West, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, on his part said the May 22 local government election was “very credible, perfect and peaceful” and that there has never been an election as peaceful, as this in the history of Oyo state.
“As you can see, people are happy with the way the election is going smoothly. The policy of the Executive Governor of the state, Engr. Seyi Makinde is people- friendly. And we chose the chairmen, the candidates of our choice to be at the local government level, the councillors will be there and all the policies of the state government will be disseminated to the grassroots and everybody will be accessible to the dividends of democracy.”
Ambassador Arapaja minced no words in condemning the boycott of the local government election by the main opposition political party in the state, the All Progressives Congress, (APC) likening it to an act self dribbling and shooting a goal at own goalpost.
“It is like shooting themselves in the leg , because when you think you are too smart, you will start dribbling, eventually you dribble yourself, until you score against yourself.”
He added that the absence of the APC in the election, “is good for the PDP, after sidelining themselves and making the whole election free and hundred percent victory for PDP.”
It was a mixed feelings as turn out of voters in some areas were impressive. Saturday May 22 witnessed large turn out of voters while in other areas in and across the state, the turn out was extremely low but peaceful, particularly in Ibadan, the state capital.
APC disagreement with OYSIEC
The major opposition party in the state, a major stakeholder in the legal tussle demanded shift in the election by the OYSIEC to at least, August this year to enable it participate but the OYSIEC remained unyielding.
APC while faulting the local government election described it as mere waste of the scarce resources of Oyo state and a mockery of democracy and the rule of law.
Briefing newsmen, APC caretaker committee chairman Chief Akin Oke said, “it became compulsory for me to once again address the press on the deliberate and unconstitutional acts of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission which has excluded our party, the All Progressives Congress from the local government election scheduled for this Saturday.
“The question is, is it fair on the people for OYSIEC to refuse to extend the election period and allow those already shut out from participating to also have the opportunity to exercise their constitutional rights to seek elective offices? We hope that Oyo state government and the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission will have a rethink and allow reason to prevail.
Expectedly, the ruling PDP, won all the 32 seats announced on Sunday, May 23, by the Oyo state Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) with the of Ido local government shifted to Wednesday, May, 26 while the election for Ibarapa East, Ward 5 and Ward 7, Polling Unit 3 has been suspended indefinitely over cases of violence.
