Politics

Fallout of LG Election: Our polling units tales    

 

By Mumini AbdulKareem

Last night came reactions from political leaders and candidates in the Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the outcome of last Saturday’s local government election held in the state.
The outcome of the election had generated differing comments from some party leaders and supporters following report that some political heavyweights lost their polling units to the opposition while others strengthened their hold.
Most affected were party leaders from Kwara Central especially in Ilorin West, Ilorin South and Ilorin East.
Reacting to the issue in separate interviews yesterday with National Pilot, most of the affected leaders and candidates explained that the situation was more of a protest vote and an act of conspiracy by some aggrieved members of the ruling APC.
According to the Special Adviser, Political Matters to the Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, Alhaji Usman Bibire Ajape, what transpired in some of the polling units has much to do with the issue of security adding that but for the matured way the security agents and the ruling party handled the issue, it would have been another story altogether.
He said the opposition came with hoodlums with a calculated attempt to disrupt the electoral process.
“If you look at the issue, I did not lose my ward in respect of the cumulative votes cast. The first polling unit where I lost was with about three votes but I defeated the opponent with about 135 votes in the second ballot box.
“The opposition brought thugs to intimidate and threaten the voters and it would have been dangerous if we didn’t handle the situation maturely to avoid bloodshed, he said.”
Ajape said the present administration placed premium importance to the youth which has reflected in their appointment into various positions of authority. He added that the recent visit of the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo to the state was significant in that regard.
He noted the shortfall from the federal allocation affected many policies and intentions of government adding that the people should be patient and continue to support the ruling administration.
For former commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of the state, Saka Isau (SAN), the issue of security played a major role during the election adding that there was no restriction of movement.
“The restriction of movement which is key, was not observed and people were moving freely in Ilorin West. But why the focus there, I don’t know. We were seeing strange faces who were drunk. Many of those who protested are not from Ilorin West.
“Some of the law enforcement agents did not actually do their job and to prevent such trend in the future, there should be restriction of movement from one polling unit to the other especially when people are moving en mass.
“I did not lose in my ward and I can never lose. It is because the opponent saw that the trend will not favour them that they decided to scuttle the process”.
But for Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Hajia Sarat Adebayo, it is not whether the opposition party has any clout or programmes to sell to the people.
She said the electorate decided to get back at the government to express their opinion about some policies they don’t like which largely affected the votes in her polling unit.
“There is the issue of inadequate security and in my polling unit at Ile Amode, Ibagun ward, the place was rowdy and the youth who constitute the voting population decided to carry out protest vote to register their displeasure over some government policies by humiliating some political office holders. It was not about whether PDP has become a beautiful bride.”
She added that the government and the party clearly understood the semiotics from the election and is poised to address the challenges.
For Special Adviser, Rural Electrification, Alhaji Musa Abdullahi, contrary to what the opponents were saying, he won his polling unit and was even instrumental to the overall success of the party in the ward.
He gave the figures as 372 to 362 and 35 to 33 respectively for APC and PDP in the chairmanship and councillorship election.
Also for the APC Woman Leader, Hajia Rahmat Oganija she did not lose her polling units at Ile Oganija but won the two boots.
She said although late arrival of results sheets caused some altercation, her appeal for calm later saved the day and the vote went on smoothly.
In his comment, the Special Assistant, Non- Governmental Affairs, Abubakar Bukola Saraki Mandate constituency, Alhaji Ali Olola blamed the Balogun Ajikobi, Muhammed Jamiu for the party’s ordeal at the polling units in Balogun Ajikobi 001 and 002.
He said in Polling Unit 003, Ode Aruwe, Omoda, the figures were APC 61 to PDP 58, adding that some of the party stalwarts were unfortunate especially with the situation in the country which has limited the APC from making bold all its electoral promises. He added that the results does not mean the PDP was really wanted.
But for the PDP candidate in Ilorin West, Comrade Musbaudeen Esinrogunjo, his polling unit at Gaa Imam, Adewole ward was nothing to write home about.
The election there, he noted, was inconclusive and the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC) should have halt the declaration of the result.
Esinrogunjo, who rejected the result called on the Inspector General of Police, Abubakar Idris and Director of State Security Service (SSS), Lawal Daura to look into the matter.
“In my polling unit, there is no report sheet and we claim we are practicing democracy. What kind of election is this?, he said.
PDP to drag APC, KWSIEC to court – Oyedepo
By Mumini AbdulKareem
The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it is ready to drag the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to court over results of last Saturday’s local government elections held in the state.
According to the Chairman of the PDP, Iyiola Oyedepo, the party has decided to challenge the declaration of the APC candidates as winners of the election by the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC).
He said once the panel for the tribunal has been inaugurated, the party will contest the election which has caused ripples among the ruling and opposition political parties in the state.
Asked on what ground(s) the party will be contesting the matter, the new chairman of the PDP, said they will articulate their grievances when they are ready for the issue.
“Of course we are definitely going to challenge the victory in court at the right time when they have set up the tribunal.
“We will forward a copy of our ground of complaints to you when we are through”, he added.
The APC last week swept all the sixteen chairmanship seats in the local government election held across the state.
Candidates of the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were yesterday declared winner of the 16chairmanship seats in the election held across the state, last weekend.
Announcing the results at the premises of the commission, KWSIEC chairman, Dr Usman Ajidagba said the ruling party won 181 councillorship seats while the opposition PPD won 8.
The PDP won some councillorship seats including two each in Ilorin West and East in Kwara central, three in Oke-Ero in  Kwara South and one in Edu local government in Kwara north.
Ajidagba said four councillorship seats were inconclusive in Ilorin West, Moro and Edu local government areas.
The announcement of the council poll results was witnessed by representatives of top security operatives and political parties.
According to the commission’s boss, out of the 36 parties registered in Kwara, only 11 took part in the exercise.

Show More

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button