Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-03-10 03:18:29
Less than two months away from the April 27, 2024 council poll in Oyo State, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is poised to secure all 33 council chairmanship seats, according to strong indications. The Guardian’s investigations suggest that while the opposition may secure a few councilorship seats, the PDP is likely to dominate the upcoming election.
The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) has confirmed the participation of 18 political parties in the contest, but the preparations of the opposition parties do not seem to pose a significant challenge to the ruling PDP. This lack of strong opposition may be attributed to the leadership of the incumbent governor, Seyi Makinde, who is viewed by many as ruling Oyo like an emperor.
Even the major opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), is perceived as not strong enough to match the ruling PDP in the upcoming election. The overall disenchantment of the electorate, coupled with economic hardships, presents a favorable environment for the ruling party to capitalize on.
In the 2023 gubernatorial polls, Governor Makinde of the PDP won in 31 councils, while APC only secured victory in two, indicating a strong advantage for the ruling party leading up to the council poll on April 27.
Apart from the political landscape, funding may also play a significant role in giving PDP candidates an edge over their opposition counterparts. Observers speculate that opposition candidates are being sponsored by the PDP to add a semblance of credibility to the electoral process.
Historically, council elections in Oyo State have been dominated by sitting governors and ruling parties, with the 2018 polls under late Governor Abiola Ajimobi seeing the APC secure all 33 local governments’ chairmanships. However, the incumbent Governor Makinde dissolved the elected chairmen upon assuming office in 2019, a move that is still tangled in legal proceedings.
In the 2021 council poll conducted by Makinde, the ruling PDP swept all 33 council chairmanship seats, setting a precedent for the upcoming election. The involvement of parties like the Social Democratic Party (SDP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and Labour Party (LP), which aligned with Governor Makinde in the 2023 gubernatorial poll, is expected to bolster the PDP’s prospects in the council election.
The recent defection of former APC stalwart Abdulfatai Buhari to the PDP from the Accord Party further strengthens the ruling party’s position ahead of the April 27 election. The APC has raised concerns about the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), threatening to withdraw its candidates if OYSIEC does not guarantee its deployment for the poll.
Despite assurances from OYSIEC that the election will be fair, APC spokesperson Olawale Sadare expressed skepticism about the electoral body’s neutrality, especially regarding the use of BVAS. The opposition’s lack of cohesion and vigor in holding the ruling party accountable to the people has raised concerns among public affairs analysts.
Political analysts emphasize the crucial role of opposition parties in providing checks and balances in a democracy. However, the internal crises within the APC and other opposition parties in Oyo State have hindered their effectiveness in challenging the ruling government. Additionally, the absence of well-defined political ideologies and strategies by the opposition parties has further weakened their ability to stand against the incumbent government effectively.
As the countdown to the April 27 council poll continues, the spotlight remains on Oyo State’s political landscape, with questions surrounding the readiness and capabilities of the opposition parties to offer a viable alternative to the ruling PDP.
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