Local Government Election: Oyetola’s penchant for illegality’ll not stand – Osun PDP

By Richard Akintade, Osogbo

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Osun State Chapter, has reacted to the announcement made by the Chairman of Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) on the plan to conduct local government election in Osun State on 15th October, 2022, a period of about 60 days from today (Monday).

It is also about three months away from the take off of administration of the Governor-elect, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke.

Recall that about two weeks ago, the PDP raised the alarm about the plan to conduct local government election in Osun State but the OSIEC Chairman, Otunba Segun Oladitan, dismissed same as a rumour. Barely five days after, however, the OSIEC chairman invited political parties for a briefing which it tagged “a parley.”

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According to a press statement made available to newsmen in Osogbo by Dr Akindele Adekunle, Chairman CTC, Peoples Democratic Party, Osun State Chapter, “the said meeting held on Friday 12th August, 2022, the PDP was ably represented at the meeting and a warning letter was openly presented and spoken to before the Commission. The illegality of the purported election is not only what is at play but also the attendant criminality being perpetrated by OSIEC and the financial injury such wasteful calisthenics will foist on Osun people. The content of the said letter is available in the public domain.

“Apparently, the OSSIEC Chairman seems adamant in going ahead with the illegal election and as such, we in the PDP will not fold our arms and watch the APC turn our dear state into lawless entity. We will ensure that the sinister and dangerous plan of OSSIEC that has become an appendage of the APC does not see the light of the day.

“Already, we have adequately invited the attention of the Inspector-General of Police to the imminent criminality and we are by this release further inviting the police authority to the looming breakdown of peace and order in Osun State in the event OSIEC proves to be above the laws of the land regarding the conduct of the election.

“We will engage in all lawful means including mobilising the masses of Osun State, who have entrusted us with the mandate to protect their interest, day-in, day-out, in peaceful protests against the illegal and atrocious plans of OSIEC against the state.”

The PDP, however, assured the people of Osun State that “we will do everything under the precinct of the law in making sure that Osun State is not further dragged into dungeons of economic retardation through the kangaroo election being proposed by the defeated governor and his conduits in OSSIEC.

“The illegal election as we have stated recently, is targeted mainly at wasting resources of the state and to cover for some financial infractions by the outgoing APC government.

“For sake of emphasis however, matters concerning conduct of the election are already before competent courts of law and as a law abiding political party, we will rely on the processes enabled by our laws to strengthen the nation’s democracy and enlighten the outgoing APC government to make them come to terms that government activities must not always be premised on crude arrogance and wanton illegality

“Members of the public especially the suffering masses of Osun are hereby called upon to join the PDP in its efforts towards putting out the fire of crisis the defeated APC Administration through OSIEC is trying to plant in the state.”