Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has commended the people of the state for their peaceful and orderly conduct during Saturday’s local government elections, even as the Labour Party (LP) rejected the exercise, describing it as a “charade” that fell short of acceptable standards.
The governor, speaking shortly after casting his vote at Ita-Osanyin Unit 2, Ward 3, Iperu-Remo, in Ikenne Local Government Area, expressed optimism that the elections would reflect the will of the people.
Abiodun, who arrived at the polling unit at 11:10 a.m. and voted at 11:22 a.m., noted that the turnout demonstrated the people’s readiness to elect candidates of their choice.
“I am confident that when the elections are concluded, and the people have expressed their choice through the ballot, everybody will be happy,” Abiodun said.
Acknowledging some initial challenges, he expressed confidence in the ability of the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) to resolve them.
“In any election, you cannot rule out some logistical hiccups, but by and large, I have been informed that those issues have been addressed, and voting has commenced in earnest,” he stated.
The exercise saw impressive voter turnout in Sagamu and Ikenne local government areas, where residents trooped to polling units to cast their votes.
An election observer from the Advocacy for Social Justice & Liberty, Charles Odunuga, described the process as “decent and well-organized.”
Labour Party Rejects Poll Results
In contrast to the governor’s commendation, the state chapter of the Labour Party has rejected the election results and called for the cancellation of the entire exercise.
At an emergency press conference in Abeokuta, the party’s state chairman, Engr. Abiodun Jagunna, accused OGSIEC of deliberate disenfranchisement and systemic rigging in favor of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Jagunna cited late arrival of electoral materials, non-display of voters’ registers, and lack of voter accreditation as evidence of widespread irregularities.
“The conduct of the local government poll was a clear violation of electoral guidelines as stipulated in Ogun State’s electoral law, particularly Section 61, Subsection 1,” he stated.
Describing the process as “a charade,” Jagunna pointed to alleged irregularities in Ofada wards in Obafemi-Owode Local Government and several polling units in Abeokuta South.
He accused OGSIEC Chairman Babatunde Osibodu of failing to uphold the credibility of the exercise.
“Sadly, the Chairman of OGSIEC, Babatunde Osibodu, has failed to use the opportunity of the local government election to distinguish himself. What took place in Ogun State today falls short of the minimum standard required for the conduct of an election,” Jagunna said.
Allegations of Voter Intimidation
Jagunna further alleged that Labour Party supporters were harassed and brutalized at polling units. “More worrisome is the fact that our teeming supporters, made up of youths, old men, and women, came out in their numbers to exercise their democratic rights”.
“They waited endlessly for the arrival of OGSIEC officials and election materials, which never came. In the few places where materials were delivered, our supporters were chased away from the polling units, and those who stood their ground were beaten and brutalized,” he alleged.
The Labour Party has threatened to challenge the election results in court if its demands for cancellation are not met.
