LG Poll:PDP Says OGSIEC Planning To Make Ogun One-Party State, Accuses Abiodun, Commission Of Meddling In Party's Affair

Hon. Ogundele in the midst of the protesters addressing Journalists on Thursday

ABEOKUTA - The Ogun state chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Babatunde Osibodu-led Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) of attempting to turn the state into one-party for allegedly preventing its candidates from participating in the local government elections. 

The party Chairman, Hon. Sikirulahi Ogundele while leading over 500 members of the party on a protest to the Press Centre of Ogun State chapter of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Thursday, described the state electoral body as bias and unreliable in conducting a credible election. 

Ogundele further accused the electoral body of meddling into his party's affair by delaying the issuance of nomination forms to all the party's councillorship and Chairmanship candidates.

The party Chairman noted that, the national headquarters of the party through its solicitors, Ricky Tarfa and Co have Sent all necessary documents and papers to guide OGSIEC in recognizing the party leadership in the state.

He, however, expressed disappointment in the electoral body for ignoring all the "verifiable documents" to properly guide its decision, stressing that, OGSIEC is deliberately acting  a script written by the ruling APC government which according to him, is bent on avoiding healthy political competition in the forthcoming local government election.

The PDP chairman, therefore, demanded immediate screening exercise for all his party candidates and issuance of the nomination form without further delay. 

He warned Governor Dapo Abiodun to desist from giving out elective positions as meal tickets to his party members, vowing to resist any form of orchestrated attempt by the Governor and OGSIEC from fanning embers of discord in the leading opposition party. 

"It has become extremely expedient to intimate the general public and of course, teeming members of our great party in Ogun state of a renewed calculated attempt by the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) to keep on intermedling in the affairs of our party by deliberately obstructing the cause of Justice as far as PDP's participation in the forthcoming LG election is concerned. 

"As a law abiding and responsible political party that has gone through a phase of robust reconciliation of all interests in the administration of our party, we have provided, through the party's team of legal minds, verifiable documents to properly guide the decision of the electoral body.

"We are however very disturbed that, without any shade of doubts, OGSIEC is obviously acting a script as written by the ruling APC government which is bent on avoiding healthy political competition which the forthcoming  LG election presents.

 

"We wish to make it abundantly clear to the press, members of our party, and the good people of Ogun State that there is no any form of crisis, rancour or disagreement in our party any longer. All interests, within the party now operates, in total harmony under the able leadership of Alh. Dr. Sikirulai Ogundele as the chairman. This is as a result of robust reconciliation which the party just achieved through the Sen. Bukola Saraki-led National Reconcillation and Strategy Committe.

"We shall resist any form of orchestrated attempt by OGSIEC to fan embers of discord in our ranks. Again, It is equally important to bring to the public's notice that the national headquarters of our party, and our team of solicitors, Ricky Tarfa & Co have sent all necessary documents and papers that are expected to guide OGSIEC from further progress in error. But to our utmost surprise, OGSIEC out of its blatant insincerity chose to look away.

"On the strength of this, we request that OGSIEC stops further meddling in our internal affairs. We Demand immediate issuance of OGSIEC nomination forms to all our candidates (Councillorship and Chairmanship) without any further delay. 

"We also demand immediate screening exercise for all our candidates by the obviously biased electoral body. For us, these are the only reasonable steps for OGSIEC to take in order to correct the reckless error which its chairman, Mr. Babatunde Osibodu has admitted on many occasions. 

"It is equally important for members of the public to know that OGSIEC, under the watch of Babatunde Osibodu is comfortably in bed with the ruling APC government in Ogun state not only to deliberately prevent our party from participating in the forthcoming LG election but to also waste the scarce public fund(s). It is evident that OGSIEC in collaboration with Gov. Dapo Abiodun is on a mission to reduce Ogun State to a "One Party State" by shutting the leading opossition party in the state (Ogun) out of the election. Elective positions should be earned via electoral contest, therefore, Gov. Dapo Abiodun should not dish out elective positions as meal tickets to his party members.

"As a democratic political party whose strenght lies in the electorate, our party will continue to partner with the general public and other critical stakeholders to further expose OGSIEC and its gross undemocratic tendencies as far as the LG election is concerned in Ogun state."