The Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) has declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of all Chairmanship and Councilorship seats in the 2024 Local Government elections.
The APC claimed victory in all 20 local government areas and 236 wards across the state.
OGSIEC Chairman, Mr. Babatunde Osibodu, announced the results during a live broadcast from the Commission’s headquarters in Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta.
According to him, a total of 613,156 votes were cast in the Chairmanship elections, with the APC securing the majority in all areas.
“The elections were conducted across the state, and I am pleased to announce that the APC emerged victorious in all Chairmanship and Councillorship positions,” Osibodu stated.
The elections featured 19 political parties, including Accord Party (AP), African Action Congress (AAC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Democratic Party (ADP), Labour Party (LP), People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and others.
Allegations of Irregularities
Despite the official results, the elections were marred by allegations of irregularities and voter suppression, particularly from opposition parties.
The Labour Party (LP) and the Action Democratic Party (ADP) described the polls as a “mockery of democracy,” accusing the ruling APC of manipulating the process.
Engr. Abiodun Jagunna, State Chairman of the Labour Party, alleged widespread malpractices, including late arrival of election materials, non-accreditation of voters, and physical intimidation at polling units.
“The election was a sham. OGSIEC failed to uphold the integrity of the process, allowing the APC to hijack the exercise and disenfranchise voters,” he said.
A similar sentiment was echoed by the ADP Chairmanship Candidate for Abeokuta South, Olalekan Alex Shoyinka, who rejected the results outright. “This was not an election but a state-sponsored coup. Voters were harassed, ballot boxes were stuffed, and the people’s mandate was stolen,” he stated.
Public Reactions
The announcement of APC’s clean sweep has drawn mixed reactions from the public. While APC supporters celebrated the outcome, opposition party members and some voters expressed disappointment.
A resident of Sagamu, Mr. Adewale Ojo, said, “I couldn’t vote because no officials or materials arrived at my polling unit. It’s clear that the whole process was compromised.” Another voter in Abeokuta described the election as “a waste of time,” citing alleged voter intimidation.
Calls for Review
Election observers have also raised concerns about the credibility of the process. Charles Odunuga, representing the Advocacy for Social Justice & Liberty, noted that while some areas experienced smooth voting, there were reports of delays and logistical challenges.
The opposition parties have vowed to challenge the results in court if OGSIEC fails to address their concerns. “We will not sit back and allow this charade to stand. We are prepared to take legal action to defend the rights of the electorate,” Jagunna declared.
The Ogun LG elections have reignited debates over the impartiality of state electoral commissions and the need for reforms to ensure free and fair polls at the grassroots level.
