Ogun Council Poll: Alleged Candidates Imposition May Hamper APC’S Chances

T HEforthcoming Local Council election in Ogun State will no doubt serve as a litmus test for the current administration in the state ahead of the 2023 general elections, going by the grievances and animosity trailing the primary ‘ selections.’

Another issue of serious concern is the isolation of a faction of the party, which has warned its members against participating in the poll, based on what it termed absence of internal democracy.

Based on feelers, the current impasse has not only further exposed the alleged lingering acrimony within the party, it has polarized it along different lines.

The Guardian gathered that a handful of aggrieved contestants who felt shortchanged during the primaries have approached the court to seek redress on the perceived injustice meted to them by party leaders, while others are warming up to follow suit.

From Abeokuta North through Abeokuta South, Odogbolu, Obafemi Owode, Ifo,

Ado- Odo, Ikenne to Ewekoro Local Councils, among others, it’s been complaints galore, a development currently threatening the chances of the party, unless drastic steps are taken to address the issues.

For instance, on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, some aggrieved party members from Odogbolu local council area stormed the party secretariat located at Iyana Mortuary in Abeokuta, alleging imposition of the chairmanship candidate ahead of the poll.

The aggrieved, accused Governor Dapo Abiodun of upturning the resolutions of the party leaders on the choice of Ola Olufunmilayo as a consensus candidate for the council.

The protesters under the aegis of Movement for Progressives Change, Odogbolu Chapter, said Abiodun imposed his choice candidate on the populace thereby setting the whole Odogbolu political atmosphere in a dire state of confusion.

It was the same story in Ikenne council. The aspirants did not only dismissed what they described as a kangaroo primary election conducted by some leaders in the council, they described the actions of the party leaders as dishonorable and shameful, which is capable of polarising the party in the state.

In a petition sent to the governor, jointly signed by Abiodun Osibodu, Ayomide Ogunmoye, Elias Obadina and Olawale Gisanrin, the petitioners said the favoured aspirant — Jamiu Mohammed Asimi, apart from being the most decorated with political appointments, coveting one office after the other to himself for about two decades in a row, he possibly might be the least academically qualified, the least loved by the electorates, and the most attached to the apron strings of the most hated and ‘ emperoric’ leader in the council.

The governor’s home council was not also exempted from the hullabaloos, as imposition has become a common song in the area. One of the aspirants, Osularu Olabanjo Muyiwa who was said to have won the Councillorship primaries for Ward 5, Iperu Remo – the governor’s hometown, was allegedly replaced.

It was learnt that the alleged winner was replaced by the incumbent Vice Chairman, Caretaker Committee of

Ikenne local council.

In a petition by his lawyer, Barr F S Daud, dated June 28, 2021 and titled: “Manipulation of result and unlawful replacement of Mr Osularu Olabanjo Muyiwa, the winner of APC Councillorship primaries for Ward 5, Iperu Remo, Ikenne local council with Mr Efuwape Olaitan Muhammed,” Osularu is asking for Abiodun’s urgent intervention on the issue.

The lawyer explained that going by the party’s directive to conduct councillorship primaries, members of the ward 5, May 20 came out with 21 leaders/ delegates to pick the councillorship candidate for the ward.

Barr. Daud explained that though there were initially seven aspirants but four of them later stepped down leaving three others, Mr. Bakare Abolore, Waheed Osinaike and Osularu Olabanjo Muyiwa in the race.

He said Muhammed, a former councilor for the ward and serving Vice- Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the local council was one of the aspirants that stepped down and was therefore honoured to be the Returning Officer, that is, the umpire for the primaries.

At the end of the exercise, Efuwape was said to have announced Osularu with 15 votes as the winner of the primaries, while Osinaike came distant second with four votes and Abolore came third with no vote.

In Arigbajo ward, Ewekoro Council area, the party leadership is currently pitched against each other on the same issue of alleged candidate imposition.