The Oyo state chapter of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, has unveiled candidates of the party ahead of the local government elections in the state.
The unveiling of the 13 chairmanship candidates was done on Thursday, at the party secretariat, in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
He said: “Meanwhile, we must put it on record that the success of the forthcoming Council Poll in Oyo state rests on the OYSIEC chairman, Aare Isiaka Olagunju (SAN) and members of his Commission who should do everything possible to demonstrate to the world that the expected election is devoid of the usual manipulation in favour of the ruling Party.
“The Chairman of OYSIEC has assured, on several occasions, that the poll would be credible and we take him for his words. It is on this premise that we are requesting the Commission to make good its promise to deploy Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for the election as only this would assist the cause of conduct free, fair and acceptable elections in April.
“In addition to this, we implore OYSIEC to collaborate with all security agencies with a view to ensuring peace and security before, during and after the poll.”
The 13 Chairmanship candidates are Abdulwasiu Ajao Danladi – Akinyele LGA, Adesina Temitope Olumide – Ibadan North West LGA, Taofeek Bello – Ona Ara LGA, Adebisi Mumuni Bolaji – Iwajowa LGA, Adeoye Adeola Jacob – Olorunsogo LGA, Abiodun Abdulrafiu Hammed – Iseyin LGA, Wahaab Tawakalitu – ATIBA LGA, Adebayo Olatunde – Ibadan South East LGA, Morolahun Samson Oyedele – Oorelope LGA, Alamu Ayodeji Abraham – Lagelu LGA, Ajadi Waheed Abiodun – Kajola LGA, Arowolo D. Oluwasogo – Oluyole LGA and Abass Sabitu Adelani – Ibadan North East.
The party chairman, Mr Micheal Okunlade, while speaking said the decision of the party to participate in the poll was borne out of the desire to deepen democracy and provide an alternative to bad governance.
He said democracy must be deepened adding that the party has concluded not to allow the ruling class to mess up the system at the expense of the masses.
His words: “First and foremost, I would like to emphasize that the decision of our great Party (SDP) to participate in the poll is borne out of our burning desire to deepen democracy and also provide an alternative to bad governance being experienced in the Pacesetter state at the moment.
“You would agree with me that opposition parties usually pay little or no attention to the conduct of local government council elections in view of the fact that ruling parties conscript it to massage their ego because they are in control of the election body which organizes it. This has been the case since after the first one conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in1999 when in the build up to the establishment of current democratic dispensation.
“This time round, we (at SDP) are resolute to change the narrative as we can no longer watch and allow the ruling class to mess up the system again at the expense of the masses. Democracy must be deepened and the campaign starts now.
“Be that as it may, the situation at the third tier of government in Oyo state today leaves much to be desired. Things have taken a new turn for the worse and there is no denying the fact that the local government council administration is comatose in Oyo state as things stand today.”
Okunlade called the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) to fulfill its promise by ensuring the usage of Bimodal Voter Accreditation (BVAS) for the exercise.
While threatening that opposition parties may pull out if BVAS isn’t deployed, he said deploying BVAS will assist the cause to conduct free, fair and credible elections in the state.
