By Seyifunmi Odunuga
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Engr Oyedele Hakeem Alao (Allow Alao), has described the local government election held in the state on Saturday as a mockery of democracy.
Alao in a statement by his Media Office, said Governor Seyi Makinde and the state Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), fooled the people of the state by promising free and fair election, stating that what played out was nothing but a charade which cannot stand the test of a democratic norm.
According to him, with the election Governor Makinde has further shown his disdain for the third tier of government as he has consistently kicked against local government autonomy, noting that he and the state electoral body ensured that there was no election throughout the state by withholding election materials from virtually all the polling units.
The Asiwaju of Irokoland while insisting that the governor went this route to save himself from electoral defeat at the local government level, maintained that whatever outcome of the election declared by Makinde and OYSIEC is a phyric victory and mockery of democracy at the grassroot.
He said, “I want to join well meaning citizens of our dear state to condemn what played out on Saturday as local government election, both Governor Makinde and OYSIEC assured of free and fair election but sadly did the opposite by disenfranchising the people by withholding election materials from all the polling units and went ahead to announce results that have been prepared before the election.
“For me the people of the state do not believe in the shenanigans that the governor and the electoral body called election bringing shame to the pace setter state. However it only goes to show that the days of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led government in the state are numbered and at the appropriate time the people of the state would speak with their votes in a free and fair election.”
Alao then appealed to the teeming members of the APC in the state not to be dismayed but rather have the hope that the people of the state are eagerly yearning for the return of the party to the Agodi Government House.
He also called for an amendment of the 1999 constitution for a truly independent and unbiased empire in the states to conduct election at the local government level without the interference of governors who have turned themselves to emperors and who if not quickly checked may truncate the country’s democracy.