Preparations for the local government election in Ogun State have reached the climax among stakeholders as political parties display different attitude to the process.
Radio Nigeria reports that, the conduct of the polls has continued to generate reactions among stakeholders.
Residents of the state are making efforts to enable them to cope with the restriction of movements ordered by the government during the elections between 7am and 4pm as many voters have to travel to different parts of the state to be able to take part in the exercise.
Security agencies and traffic management Corps have also assured the people of adequate measures to protect their lives and property, before during and after the polls.
Meanwhile, some leaders of political parties who spoke with Radio Nigeria on preparations for the local government elections have emphasized the need for the electoral umpire to refrain from acts capable of putting the elections in jeopardy.
They alleged that the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission, OGSIEC, had been interfering in party politics and not living up to expectations as an independent agency but acting as an appendage of the state ruling party.
On the report that The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the State has withdrawn from participating in the polls, state chairman of one of the factions, Alhaji Sikirullai Ogundele, maintained that it was to protest the undue interference of the Commission in the internal politics of the party, alleging that OGSIEC was assisting the opposition to destabilise the PDP in Ogun state.
In a reaction to the planned boycott however, another factional Chairman of PDP in the state, Mr Leke Shittu said the report was untrue as the members had fulfilled all the requirements for the elections and would participate actively in the entire process.
In a statement in Abeokuta, Mr Shittu who described his faction as the authentic leadership of the PDP in the state emphasized that the party was not pulling out of the election.
Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Mr. Olaposi Oginni who also confirmed the party’s readiness to take part in the election the concern over the report of violence campaign at rallies organized by the ruling party, which according to him was capable of fueling voter apathy
On his part, the Ogun state chairman of the Labour Party, Comrade Abayomi Arabambi while speaking on the exercise said his political party had no grievances over the local government election and the state Electoral body.
He said labour party was prepared to participate in Saturday’s council elections.
Some eligible voters while reacting to the controversies trailing the conduct of the local government election, blamed the situation on the lack of internal democracy and emergence of factions in the major political parties, including the ruling APC.
They urged the OGSIEC to refrain from acts capable of putting the polls in jeopardy.
Radio Nigeria’s attempt to get the reaction of the electoral body was however stalled as the Chairman, OGSIEC, Mr Babatunde Osibodu was unavailable for comments and all efforts made to reach him were unsuccessful.
Wale Oluokun
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