The Oyo State Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Alhaji Owolabi Suraj Olanrewaju has advocated that necessary laws should be put in place to empower the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take over the conduct of local government elections in Nigeria in order to ensure fairness.
He further stated that the recently concluded local government election in Abuja municipal areas conducted by INEC has attested to the fact that the umpire is capable of conducting free and fair local government elections in the country.
He said, “In every local government election, every ruling party at the state level contests to win, and no party is innocent including APGA because he who pays the piper dictates the tune. Many of our governors in Nigeria do not want the autonomy of local governments especially because of this.”
Speaking on the amended INEC timetable for the 2023 general election, “INEC has released the timetable in accordance with the amended electoral law and President Muhammadu Buhari should be applauded on this feat”.
He continued “INEC should provide an enabling environment for the conduct of free and fair election in 2023 and the electorates should endeavor to cooperate with the electoral body for the success of the elections”.
The Oyo APGA chairman made these submissions while featuring on a weekly radio show, Parrot Xtra/Ayekooto on Radio’ anchored by Olayinka Agboola and broadcast live on Splash Lagelu 105.5FM, Felele Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State’s recently.
Alhaji Owolabi further charged Nigerian youth to be the active change in the politics of the country while urging them to stop being tools in the hands of desperate politicians who are bent on winning elections at all cost.
He said, “Let our youths get involved in politics and have a rethink because the power of voting lies with them. During the last LG election in Oyo State, APGA gave the chance to all interested youths to contest the LG election at no cost.
“Uunfortunately, Oyo OYSIEC chairman, Aare Isiaka Olagunju gave a rule that all contestants must pay some amount of money. We later took OYSIEC to court to contest the decision and he later saw reason with us”.
When asked if APGA will present a gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 governorship election in Oyo State, he said, “Engr. Seyi Makinde is doing his best. If I do not have a candidate that can rubbish his achievement or feat, I will rather not present a candidate. At best, I will present candidates for the State House of Assembly and House of Representatives election”.
He further stated that the existence of multi-party system in Nigeria is for the benefit of Nigerians revealing that no party is bigger than the other in operation and activities.
Speaking on the differences between APGA and other parties in the country, “No political party is bigger than the other; it is people that make up the party. All political parties want to get to power. Sometimes, politicians capitalize on the ignorance of the people in order to manipulate them. We all sell the same product as political parties and if my party wins an election, it will become bigger”
He also had this to say on the activities of APGA, “The recent election in Anambra State showed the discipline we have in APGA. We are always determined to do the right things at the right time. In APGA, we will never present a candidate for election that will later be disqualified by INEC”.
The experienced politicians further lampooned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressive Congress (APC) for mismanaging the country’s resources since the inception of democratic rule in 1999 while revealing that APGA will come out with a new style of governance if given the chance to rule the nation.
Speaking on the proposed restructuring of the country, “I will urge all to embrace restructuring. In the recent constitutional amendment, there is no provision for State police and local government autonomy. The National assembly is not ready for restructuring”.
The Oyo State Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) secretary further revealed that IPAC was established to play an advisory role to INEC, enlighten the electoral body about the activities of various political parties in Nigeria and to act as a link between the electoral body and the electorates.
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