Ogun State held its local government polls on Saturday, November 16, with reports of violence and suppression of voters as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scrambled for votes.
A resident of Agbero Market Polling Unit in Ward 10 in the Remo North local government area of Ogun State has described how lack of election materials and violence disrupted the state's recently concluded local council elections.
Ogun State held its local government polls on Saturday, November 16, with reports of violence and suppression of voters as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scrambled for votes.
In an audio obtained by SaharaReporters, the female resident was heard lamenting irregularities during the council election.
She said armed hoodlums and gunmen were deployed to suppress voters’ participation.
She said, “There was no election. To my surprise, there was no ballot paper in my polling unit. I do vote in Agbero Market Unit 1, Ward 10. They initially brought to Agbero Market 2 and then took it back.
"So someone will come out later and tell us he is the Chairman Remo North Local Government or Ward Councillor in Ward 9 or Ward 10. We don’t want political slavery.
“You are denying us (the youths). Nigerian politicians should remember that they would die and leave the youths behind. There would not be peace with this system of election that you will later announce an elected chairman without election.
“There were gunshots, thick like knockout sounds everywhere on the day before, because of the Remo local government elections and not even a state governorship election. I am really disappointed in all the politicians.
“You already knew that PDP would also win some seats, it is normal that APC will win some and PDP will win some. But you did not allow the matter to be free and fair election. You should know that people are no longer voting based on political parties. They are voting based on personalities.”
The Chief Judge of the state, Mosunmola Dipeolu, had sworn in members of the Local Government Election Petition Tribunal to adjudicate over petitions emanating from the November 16th local council polls in the state.
The members of the tribunal, comprising five men and four women, were sworn in at the conference hall of the Judiciary Complex, Kobape, Abeokuta, in line with the provisions of Section 85 (1) and (3) of the Electoral Law of Ogun State.
She advised them to approach each case with diligence and an unwavering commitment to uncover the truth, noting that the responsibility bestowed upon them is both challenging and rewarding.
The Chief Judge had said, “Elections are the bedrock of democracy, providing citizens the opportunity to choose their representatives in an atmosphere of freedom and fairness.
“As chairmen and members of the tribunal, you are charged with a sacred duty to adjudicate disputes arising from this electoral process."