16 political parties set for Osun LG election as PDP, APP to boycott

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

Sixteen out of the 18 political parties in Osun State have indicated interest to present candidates for the chairmanship and councillorship elections coming up on Saturday, 15 October.

However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Peoples Party (APP), said they will not participate in the election.

PDP said the proposed election by the State Independent National Electoral Commission (OSIEC) is illegal and unconstitutional.

The party maintained that the process has not been in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022. 

PDP, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr Akindele Adekunle, called on Governor Gboyega Oyetola to drop the idea of going ahead with the council poll, noting that illegally elected officials will not last beyond November 27.

Adekunle stated that the planned exercise by the APC was a waste of scarce resources and a continuation of the party’s ploy to throw the state into confusion, calling on Osun people to stay away from the sham that has no benefit for the state.

“In furtherance of our earlier warnings, anyone who emerged from the illegal election will be dissolved after November 27.

“The reason for this is simply because our party will never condone any act of illegality, which is the clear reflection of the planned exercise,” he said.

Adekunle said the PDP is not averse to having elected officials at the local government

“The position of our party remains that laws should be a guiding principle, and not the shenanigan we have seen so far.

“It is on this note that we want to call on Osun people to stay away from this illegality by not participating in the exercise. The implication of joining APC in its voyage of illegality is a costly one especially for our struggling state, which has tones of obligations unmet, particularly pension arrears.

“At the appropriate time and in line with the laws, our party will conduct council elections and bring about the right government for people at the grassroots, not the charade that APC is planning,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in the state, Simeon Adebayo said the body support the exercise and will participate in it.

Adebayo said, the decision to participate in the election was because of the need to have a government that is near to the people.

“IPAC fully supports the conduct of the election by the Election Management Body (EMB) – OSIEC. We hereby enjoin OSIEC to ensure that the exercise is done in conformity with the law – OSIEC Electoral Law and the Electoral Act 2022,” he said.

Adebayo called on the people of the state to exercise their civic duties on the day of the poll.