The Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has resolved to participate in the local government election slated for December 16, 2023, by Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC).
This was contained in a press statement delivered by the state chairman of the PDP, Hon. Fatai Adams, during a press conference at the party’s secretariat on Thursday in Akure, the Ondo State Capital.
“Gentlemen of the Press, you must have been aware of the plan of Ondo State Government to conduct Local government election by ODIEC come December 16, 2023. We have therefore called you to intimate you of our resolve to participate in the election,” Fatai said.
Starnews Nigeria reports that the opposition party said that “Local government is the third tier of government which is closest to the people at the grassroots. Unfortunately, it has been completely paralysed, only serving as a salary payment agency of the State Government, rather than serving the grassroots people as enshrined in the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended)”.
According to the PDP, “Gone are the days when local government administration under the PDP was alive to its constitutional responsibilities. Gone are the days when local governments embarked on the construction of rural roads, markets, and other social amenities at the grassroots. Gone are the days when capable and tested hands were in charge of government at the grassroots.
“It is against this background that our party will participate in the Local Government Election, to bring development to the grassroots again, as it was under previous PDP administrations.
“Our resolve to participate is to reverse the uneventful and uninspiring narratives. It is to restore the lost glory of local government administration and its pride.
“This resolve is deliberate and we are conscious of the agenda of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to continue to muzzle the local government administrations by foisting his stooges on the people. We can therefore gauge his temperature and the mood of the APC as well as the inconveniences this our resolve may cause its members who erroneously see local government as their cash cow, being the reward for their hypocrisy and sycophancy to the Governor,” the statement added.
The PDP said that APC will be resisted by the grassroots people who have been bearing the brunt of inept, colourless, unenviable, dry, and retrogressive governance at that very important layer of government.
The party called ODIEC to perform its role as an impartial arbiter which should not rob Peter to pay Paul. We are passionately appealing to the Chairman and other members of the Commission to always act on the side of the people bearing in mind that their Commission is being financed by the taxpayers’ money and not from the APC government which merely appointed them.
The party added, “ODIEC should ensure utmost transparency of the electoral process, exhibit decency, decorum, and discipline that is expected of their high offices and not compromise for any self-serving or pecuniary gains so that posterity will be kind to them at the end of the day.
“Gentlemen of the Press, we have equally called you to remind you of your constitutional role of watching and monitoring the electoral process and accurately reporting and informing the public of what you see along the line without fear or favour. You have this inalienable duty to the people and not to any government in power so that we can together build a safe, sane, solid, and sound nation where the potential of the people can be ultimately realised.
“We are assuring you and the general public that we are prepared to participate in the electoral contest with the fervent hope that the Governor and his APC will allow the Commission to perform its role without undue interference and interruptions. As a party, we have put necessary machinery in motion which will culminate in our electoral victory at the polls and we are participating to win by the grace of God.”
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