PRESS STATEMENT
10TH JULY, 2024
DEMOCRACY HIJACKED: OBA EXPOSES AIYEDATIWA’S IRON GRIP ON ONDO’S LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
Otunba Bamidele Akingboye (OBA), the Social Democratic Party (SDP) gubernatorial candidate for Ondo 2024, raises alarm over the continuous erosion of grassroots democracy in Ondo State by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration.
OBA observes yet another indefinite postponement of Local Government Area (LGA) elections by the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC).
Governor Aiyedatiwa’s reluctance to conduct LGA elections is nothing short of a calculated assault on the democratic rights of Ondo citizens. This pattern of postponements raises serious questions about the APC’s confidence in facing the electorate at the grassroots level.
The SDP candidate astutely points out the far-reaching implications of this democratic deficit: The failure to conduct LGA elections not only disenfranchises local voters and centralizes power in the hands of the state government, but it also fosters a lack of accountability, potential mismanagement of resources, and stunted grassroots development.
This situation violates constitutional mandates, escalates political tensions, disengages citizens from local politics, hampers economic growth, complicates federal fund allocations, exposes the state to legal vulnerabilities, and ultimately damages Ondo’s democratic credentials both nationally and internationally.
OBA challenges Governor Aiyedatiwa to prove his leadership mettle by immediately facilitating free and fair LGA elections. If the Governor is truly confident in his party’s grassroots support, why the persistent delays? These postponements only serve to confirm the APC’s waning popularity and their desperate attempts to cling to power through undemocratic means.
The SDP candidate emphasizes that the upcoming gubernatorial election will be a referendum on the APC’s governance, predicting it will mark the end of their rule in Ondo State. By influencing these incessant postponements, Aiyedatiwa is merely delaying the inevitable judgment of the people.
As Ondo State grapples with this democratic crisis, OBA’s bold stance highlights the urgent need for electoral reform and true representation at the local level. The people of Ondo deserve leaders who champion their interests, not those who seek to silence their voices.
Signed,
Oyeniyi Iwakun
Strategic Communications and Media Adviser to the SDP Governorship Candidate