…unveils 13 chairmanship candidates
By Adeyinka Adeniran
Ahead of the April 24th local government polls in Oyo state, the Social Democratic Party (SDP), on Thursday, warned that opposition parties in the state may boycott the election if the State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), fails to deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine for the election.
The party said using BVAS would assist the cause of conducting free, fair and credible elections.
This is as the party also called on the OYSIEC Chairman, Aare Isiaka Olagunju (SAN), and other members of the Commission to do everything possible to demonstrate to the world that the forthcoming election would be devoid of the manipulation in favour of the ruling party.
Chairman of the party, Mr Michael Okunlade, made the call while speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting at the Secretariat, where the 13 Chairmanship candidates of the party for the next LG polls were unveiled.
He said, “If it (OYSIEC) fails to use BVAS, we are going to suspect the credibility of the election and it would be challenged. Opposition may boycott the election without the use of BVAS. The Chairman of OYSIEC has assured, on several occasions, that the poll would be credible and we take him for his words.
“It is on this premise that we are requesting the Commission to make good its promise to deploy Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for the election as only this would assist the cause of conduct free, fair and acceptable election in April.
“OYSIEC should also collaborate with the security agencies before, during and after the election.”
Similarly, the party expressed its burning desire to deepen democracy and also provide an alternative to “bad governance being experienced in the Pacesetter state at the moment.”
He admitted that the party is resolute to changing the existing narrative, and can no longer allow the ruling class mess up the system again at the expense of the masses.
While lamenting that the present administration of Governor Makinde does not believing in the third tier of government as being pivotal to the development of the grassroots, he accused the state government of feasting on the monies accrued to the 33 councils in the state.
“This has been the story since May 29, 2019, but this time around, we are saying enough is enough. You would agree with me that opposition parties usually pay little or no attention to the conduct of local government council elections in view of the fact that ruling parties conscript it to massage their ego because they are in control of the election body which organizes it.
“This has been the case since after the first one conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in1999 when in the build up to the establishment of current democratic dispensation.
“Be that as it may, the situation at the third tier of government in Oyo state today leaves much to be desired. Things have taken a new turn for the worse and there is no denying the fact that local government council administration is comatose in Oyo state as things stand today.
“From Agodi-Gate to lgangan; Okeho to Igbeti; Ikoyi-lle to Ojongbodu; Moniya back to Iwo-Road in Ibadan, our council Secretariat have all become a shadow of themselves owing to the fact that no serious government business takes place again in these places.
“Most council staff are idle while the so-called elected officials do nothing to justify their status. The reason for this is not far-fetched. Experts have traced the prevalence of poverty and hunger in Oyo state to the emasculation or strangulation of the 33 LGAs by the powers-that-be as they argue that the combination of the monthly allocations and internally generated revenue accrued to each of the local government councils in the state could go a long way to address the peculiar challenges of infrastructural deficit, graduate unemployment, poor environmental sanitation, rural-urban drift, insecurity among others if allowed to be utilized by the relevant authorities and for the intended purposes, he added.
He urged the party members to put the outcome of the 2023 elections behind them and buckle up to ensure that all anti-democratic elements are shown the exit doors from the politics in the forthcoming council Poll.
The 13 Chairmanship candidates are Abdulwasiu Ajao Danladi – Akinyele LGA, Adesina Temitope Olumide – Ibadan North West LGA, Taofeek Bello – Ona Ara LGA, Adebisi Mumuni Bolaji – Iwajowa LGA, Adeoye Adeola Jacob – Olorunsogo LGA, Abiodun Abdulrafiu Hammed – Iseyin LGA, Wahaab Tawakalitu – ATIBA LGA, Adebayo Olatunde – Ibadan South East LGA, Morolahun Samson Oyedele – Oorelope LGA, Alamu Ayodeji Abraham – Lagelu LGA, Ajadi Waheed Abiodun – Kajola LGA, Arowolo D. Oluwasogo – Oluyole LGA and Abass Sabitu Adelani – Ibadan North East.
