The Ogun State House of Assembly Minority Leader, Hon. Lukman Adeleye has condemned in its entirety the alleged use of force, violence, intimidation and the involvement of soldiers by the ruling all Progressives Congress, APC, during yesterday’s local government election in the State.
Hon. Lukman Adeleye who spoke shortly after he was released from detention by men of the Nigerian Army from Ilese Barracks, said “such involvement of the army is a threat to democracy and the whole election was a charade.”
He said, the local government election has further exposed the ruling party in the state as not only unpopular with the people but also revealed that operators of the APC are capable of acts that can undermine democracy and disrupt the system.
“You can imagine the level of violence, rigging and intimidation and despite all that they still lost woefully in the election conducted by them. That shows the people have rejected them,” he said.
In his explanation, Hon Adeleye said, “Odogbolu is one of the strongest hold of PDP in the state, coupled with the fact that I am their representative, it is not unexpected that our support base is intact and a majority especially when we have been so accountable and responsible to our people, doing projects and a whole lot. Our candidates were also top notch.
“Maybe the government should have simply written names and announce instead of wasting taxpayers money on the charade called election,” he added.
The minority leader, who berated the soldiers for taking him away at gun point and allowing themselves to be used as a tool of suppression in a democracy, assured that the matter would be looked into.
“The military officers were brought in allegedly by a member of the government as revealed by one of the officers on camera after many failed attempts to disrupt the election which the PDP was already leading,” he declared.
He decried, the manner in which he was whisked away in a commando like manner by soldiers whom he alleged used their vehicle to injure the leg of an electorate.
Adeleye also alleged that he was tortured and humiliated as they dragged him to the barracks where they tried to implicate him unsuccessfully.
“I was later handed over to the police area command, before being brought to Abeokuta.”
In summary, “it was a calculated attempt to take me away from the system and I later learnt that the officers were from Ibadan, even as they came without proper clearance.”
Hon Adeleye in his words said, “we are happy that we have been able to prove to the entire people of Ogun state that these people are fraudulent and not popular as the people have showed them, while it is clear cut that the APC is anti-people.”
Abiodun Hails Peaceful LG Elections
Earlier, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun hailed the local government elections conducted in the state yesterday, describing it as peaceful and satisfactory.
Abiodun also commended the residents for their orderly conduct during the exercise and submitted that it was a confidence vote and expression of the people’s franchise to select their leaders.
The Governor spoke shortly after casting his vote at Ita-Osanyin Unit 2, Ward 3, in Iperu-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area, also commended the security agencies for ensuring a peaceful exercise.
He said the feedbacks from across the state showed that the elections went smoothly and diligently even as he lauded the Ogun State Independence Electoral Commission(OGSIEC) for its level of preparedness for the election.
He, however, noted that the logistics hiccups observed in few places should not be ruled out, saying in the end, the electoral materials reached every nook and cranny of the state.
Abiodun said, “In any elections, we can’t rule out logistics hiccups but buy and large electoral materials have reached all nook and cranny of the state and voting has commenced in harness.
“I want to commend our law enforcement agencies . I have seen the presence of the Police, civil defence, Department of State Security and Amotekun Corps.
“I want to commend them for working collaboratively to ensure we have a peaceful election today
“I see this as a vote of confidence particularly at this time when we know that it will cost more than it cost in the last election to actually file out and exercise their franchise.
“I want to thank them for there continuous support for democracy and I am confident that when the election is concluded, when the people has expressed their choice through the ballot, everybody will be happy.”
