Hon. Lukman Adeleye, Minority Leader of the Ogun State House of Assembly, has raised serious concerns about the conduct of the November 16, 2024, local government elections in Ogun State.
Speaking during a live interview on Eagle 102.5 FM’s current affairs program Frontline, Adeleye accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of employing voter intimidation and widespread electoral malpractices to influence the outcome of the polls.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) entered this election with a clear objective: to highlight the waning relevance of Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun and the APC in Ogun State,” Adeleye explained.
He further asserted that the PDP remains the dominant political force in Ogun East and Ogun Central senatorial districts, claiming that the irregularities observed were desperate attempts by the APC to hold onto power.
“Our goal was simple—to show the governor and his party how irrelevant they have become. The people of Ogun State have moved on, with the PDP representing the majority in key regions. Unfortunately, the APC resorted to voter intimidation and outright fraud to claim an undeserved victory,” he said.
Expressing disappointment with the election results, which saw the APC winning across all local government areas, Adeleye described the outcome as reflective of a broader national pattern.
“This is bigger than Ogun State. Across Nigeria, ruling parties use their influence to suppress opposition voices and undermine democracy,” he added.
The Minority Leader called on the state electoral commission and independent observers to re-evaluate the election process.
He stressed the importance of creating a fairer system for future polls, while also advocating for judicial reforms to allow electoral petitions to extend beyond state high courts.
“The people deserve justice. Democracy cannot thrive where fraud and intimidation are the tools of governance,” Adeleye concluded.
