EXCLUSIVE: Bit-by-bit accounts of how APC, PDP, SDP, nine others fared in just-concluded Ogun LG polls
The Local Government Area elections held in Ogun State on Saturday, July 24, 2021 for 20 chairmanship and 236 councillorship seats.
Newsclickng.com gathered that about 12 political parties, including the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), were listed as participants in the polls but a faction of PDP pulled out barely 24 hours to the Election Day.
Chairman of the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC), Babatunde Osibodu while declaring the results said candidates of the APC won all the 20 slots.
“I want to say that APC won all the chairmanship seats in the 20 local government areas in the state, ” he said.
Osibodu added that the total number of votes cast in the chairmanship elections in the 20 local government areas in the state was 396,641.
Though, the electoral umpire has declared winners and presented certificate of return to them, however, political watchers, particular those in Ogun State are still left in the dark on the relevant details of the election and how individual parties fared hence the essence of this report by this medium.
Newsclickng.com in this report highlighted each of the 20 local governments, main participating political parties, names of candidates, votes cast and winner.
Click on link below for explanatory result sheets as obtained exclusively by Newsclickng.com.
Abiodun commends OGSIEC, speaks on PDP last minute ‘withdrawal’ from poll
Meanwhile, Governor Dapo Abiodun after casting his vote on Saturday commended OGSIEC for organizing what he called a hitch-free election.
The governor also dismissed PDP’s alleged boycotting of the election saying the party could not have boycotted a process it did not take part in.
Abiodun said, “I’m not aware of any party boycotting this election. I hear of a purported or supposed boycott and spoke to our team to find out exactly what was going on.
“What apparently has happened is that one or two parties are fictionalised and I believe that the legitimate factions of these other parties were duly recognised by OGSIEC and what I was made to understand was that the party that was not recognised headed to the court, and the case was in court until on Thursday, and from what I understand, the court dismissed the suit that was challenging the OGSIEC accepting the other faction and following that, I think perhaps, to save face, the faction that lost out now decided to boycott.
“You cannot be boycotting a process that you are not even a participant in, so I didn’t understand that.”
The Governor, who said he could not speak for OGSIEC, said he believed the electoral empire has done everything within its power to be very transparent and to ensure that a level playing field for all.
However, just as witnessed in Lagos, the Ogun LG election on Saturday suffered voter apathy as only a few went out to exercise their franchise.
The PDP had withdrawn from the election after it accused OGSIEC of deliberately fictionalising the party by recognising a group loyal to the late Buruji Kashamu.
But, OGSIEC chairman said the commission only pitched tents with the authentic faction.
Abiodun swears-in 20 elected chairmen, charges them on good governance
Newsclickng.com reports that Governor Dapo Abiodun had since on Monday inaugurated the 20 local government chairmen, who emerged victorious in the local government poll, held on Saturday.
The governor, while addressing the new chairmen at the swearing-in ceremony held at the Arcade Ground, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, charged them to ensure they provide good governance at the grassroots.
Abiodun, who noted that the local government was not just a tier of government as stated in the country’s 1999 constitution, as amended, but the closest to the people, further tasked the chairmen to usher in a new vista of development in their various councils.
Commending the chairmen for stepping out to make themselves available for service and most especially, for the entrenchment of good governance at the grassroots level, the governor noted that, “Your victory at the poll is a combination of the confidence reposed in your individual abilities, the faith the people have in the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) to provide the needed development and ensure individual prosperity for our people at the grassroots.
“It is important that you appreciate the enormity of the responsibility your victory places on your shoulders. The Local Government is not just a tier of government stated in our country’s 1999 constitution, as amended; it is the closest to the people and so much is expected from you. Therefore, your assumption of office must bring a new vista of development to our people at the grassroots.
“In doing this, you must be inclusive; you must be transparent; you must be accountable; you must be fair; you must be just; you must be equitable; you must obey the rule of law; you must provide good governance; you must be judicious. Above all, you cannot afford to turn yourselves to Mr. or Mrs. I know it all”, Abiodun stated.
He urged the council bosses not to rely exclusively on allocations from the federal government, but be creative in generating funds internally, and incorporate the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model, without over-burdening the people, who according to him, “are the essence and facilitators of your being in power”.
The governor added: “You should take a cue from our approach at the state level by being cerebral; methodical; systemic and ensure strategic allocation of funds. Let me assure you all that our Administration at the State level, will continue to support our LGAs with funds where and when necessary.
The governor, however, called on the people at the local government level to hold the council chairmen to account.
“You have voted them in. You should also ensure that you continue to give them suggestions on how to improve the lots of the people in their areas. We must understand that the democratic process does not end at electing representatives but also in helping them to do what we have elected them to do. Democracy is not an event, it is a process”, Abiodun submitted.
