The Senator Abiola Ajimobi-led administration in Oyo State has warned groups and individuals against activities capable of disrupting Saturday’s local government election and party congresses, saying that security operatives have been put on red alert to ensure peaceful conduct of both exercises.
A statement by the Executive Assistant, Political to the Governor, Dr. Morohunkola Thomas, on Thursday, said that the warning became necessary following the fresh plans by dissident groups and their sympathisers within the All progressives Congress to cause mayhem on Saturday.
Following the scuttling of the initial plans of the group to burn down the state secretariat of the APC, he said that intelligence revealed that they are restrategising to disrupt the peace of the land and render the LG election and congresses inconclusive.
The government said that necessary security arrangements have been put in place to protect lives and property and to ensure that residents exercise their franchise without let or hindrance.
According to him, latest intelligence has revealed that the members of the Unity Forum are planning to use their thugs to unleash terror on the innocent electorate and loyal members of the APC.
He said that the government appealed to all citizens, including the self-styled Unity Forum to embrace peace and allow the elections to hold in a peaceful atmosphere in the overall interest of the state and sanctity of democracy.
“The government has put security operatives on red alert to ensure the safety of election officials and voters. It has, therefore, become necessary to warn groups and individuals bent on fomenting trouble on Saturday to have a rethink.
“The law of the land is no respecter of anybody, no matter his or her position in the society. As leaders in their own right, those crying blue murder should rise above pettiness and join hands with the government and our great party.
“The government is using this opportunity to caution all political parties, including APC and their followers against any act of violence before, during and after the local government election and party congresses. The full weight of the law will be visited on troublemakers without discrimination.
“The government wishes to tell the public that an earlier interim injunction stopping the LG election had been vacated by a Federal High Court, Ibadan, thus clearing obstacles before the conduct of the election.”
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Government, Thursday, disclosed that local government elections will hold on Saturday May 12 as scheduled, saying that there will be restriction of movement between 8am and 3pm.
The Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr. Oluseun Abimbola said that the supposed legal impediment towards the conduct of the election has been vacated as a Federal High Court in Ibadan today struck out the suit filed by some persons from Eruwa against Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) and others challenging elections into newly created wards in Oyo state.
Abimbola said that in the suit FHC/IB/CS/47/2018 (Olugbenga Adeyemi & Others V INEC, OYSIEC and OYSG, the presiding judge, Hon. Justice Abdul Malik of the Federal High Court in Ibadan held that the subject matter of this suit is clearly on the powers of OYSIEC being challenged by the plaintiffs, and not the powers of INEC joined as a federal agency.
“She agreed with the submissions of the Oyo State Attorney General, Oluseun Abimbola Esq, that the joinder of a federal agency will not automatically confer jurisdiction on the court if the subject matter contested is outside the jurisdiction of the Court.
“The court then held that the suit was not for the Federal High Court, but for the State High Court and accordingly struck out the suit in its entirety along with any previously made orders,” Abimbola explained.
He added, “It will be recalled that the court had earlier made an order of injunction restraining defendants from using the new ward delineation for the elections. That order is equally now vacated. With this ruling, the coast is clear for the exercise of democratic rights by all residents of the State to elect Chairmen and Councilors into all Local Government Councils, Local Council Development Area (LCDAs) and their constituent wards on Saturday, May 12.”
The State Government said that there will be vehicular restriction between 8am and 3pm on Saturday May 12, 2018 during the conduct of the local government election in the state.
The State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Toursim, Mr. Toye Arulogun said that Students sitting for National Board of Technical Examination (NABTEB) with proof of evidence will be allowed to move to their examination centres.
Arulogun explained that election will hold in 33 local government areas and the 35 local council development areas, urging the general public to troop out enmasse to cast their votes for candidates of their choice.
He appealed to the citizens to bear with the commission on the restriction.
Packaged by Oyedapo Oyewole
