… OGSIEC Issues Certificates of Return to APC Candidates
… PDP Minority Leader Alleges Military Intimidation
By Daud Olatunji
The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, allocated over N200 million for the conduct of local government elections, which have been widely criticized for disenfranchisement, violence, manipulation, and voter apathy.
An investigation by PLATFORM TIMES into the Ogun State Government’s 2024 approved budget online portal revealed that the state’s Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) was allocated ₦205,197,185.54.
The budget breakdown showed ₦88,902,278.22 designated for personnel expenditure, ₦89,453,055.61 for other recurrent expenses, and a total recurrent expenditure of ₦178,355,333.83. Additionally, ₦26,841,851.71 was earmarked for capital expenditure.
… Electoral Mismanagement and Voter Disenfranchisement
The local government elections, conducted on Saturday, were marred by widespread disenfranchisement. Reports from PLATFORM TIMES, which monitored the exercise, highlighted that many polling units in Abeokuta and other parts of the state did not receive electoral materials or officials.
In areas where materials were supplied, they arrived late and in insufficient quantities, leaving voters frustrated.
Electorate expressed their displeasure over the failure of OGSIEC to deliver materials to polling units, effectively denying them the opportunity to exercise their civic rights.
In Ogun East, the election was further disrupted by violence, with videos showing unknown soldiers intimidating opposition members.
Despite the chaos, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner of all 20 local government chairmanship seats and 236 councilor positions across the state.
… PDP Leader Alleges Military Intimidation
The Minority Leader of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Lukman Adeleye, was a prominent victim of the alleged electoral malpractice.
Adeleye was seen in viral videos being harassed and detained by unknown soldiers during the election.
Speaking about the incident, Adeleye condemned the use of military personnel, violence, and intimidation during the elections, calling it a “threat to democracy.”
He described the election as a “charade,” accusing the APC of undermining democratic principles.
Adeleye narrated how soldiers from Ilese Barracks whisked him away in a commando-style operation, dragging him to their barracks and allegedly torturing him.
“It was a calculated attempt to remove me from the system,” he said.
He also alleged that the military vehicle used by the officers ran over the leg of an electorate during the operation.
The minority leader revealed that the soldiers had been deployed allegedly under orders from a “certain SSG,” and their mission was to disrupt the election process in areas where the opposition PDP was leading.
“This election has exposed the APC as not only unpopular but as a party willing to undermine democracy to retain power,” Adeleye said. He assured voters that the matter would be pursued through appropriate channels.
Other political parties, including the Labour Party (LP) and African Democratic Party (ADP), also criticized the election.
The LP called for an outright cancellation of the exercise, while the ADP described it as “robbery and injustice.”
Despite the controversies, OGSIEC Chairman, Babatunde Osibodu, declared the APC candidates as winners and issued certificates of return to them on Sunday.
However, many voters who spoke to PLATFORM TIMES expressed frustration over their inability to cast their votes. “We waited for hours, but no officials or materials showed up,” one voter lamented.
The election, initially touted as a step towards grassroots development, has instead drawn widespread condemnation.
Critics argue that the mismanagement and militarization of the process undermine public trust in the electoral system.
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