Labour Party Withdraws from Osun State LG Polls

Just hours before the local government election slated for Saturday in Osun State, the candidates of the Labour Party (LP) in the polls have withdrawn from the race.

The candidates, under the aegis of Labour Party Candidates Forum, announced their withdrawal late Friday at a press conference held in Osogbo, the State capital, citing unstable security situation in the state.

They called for a postponement of the election, by at least three months, stressing the need to prioritize public safety.

A chairmanship candidate and leader of the forum, Bode Babalola, said that the insecurity in the local government secretariats as well as the prevailing legal impasse must first be resolved.

“We want the election postponed, not cancelled so that the crisis at the local government councils can be resolved,” he said.

Babalola said the unstable situation will not favour any party in the state. He urged the state government and the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to shelve the election for now.

The LP State Chairman Adebayo Bello also reiterated the call for a postponement in the interest of peace and security.

“The prevailing situation in the state calls for caution and the need to reschedule to a later date, which will provide all parties with an opportunity to resolve pending issues and ensure a more transparent and peaceful process.”

 

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Meanwhile, a statement by the spokesperson to Governor Ademola Adeleke, Olawale Rasheed reiterated the governor’s commitment to the peaceful election in the state.

The statement said the governor had imposed a curfew from 5am to 5pm on Saturday to prevent the influx of hoodlums and political thugs from disrupting the election.

He said that the Governor had directed security operatives to enforce the restriction, except the voters, accredited media and civil society organizations.

The state government and its electoral body also decided to carry on with the election, against advice not to pending a peaceful resolution of all issues surrounding the poll.

Residents of the state capital, Osogbo partially complied with the restriction of movement order by the governor.

Major streets were deserted with shops and businesses closed in deference to the order, but inner city streets had human and vehicular activities.

With regard to security, while some police personnel were seen at strategic locations in Osogbo metropolis keeping the peace, others mounted checkpoints on the highway but there were no police cover at the polling centres.

Voting Process

The Governor voted at about 8 am at Ward 2, unit 9, Saagba Abogunde Ede, where he spoke to reporters.

He urged the people to come out to exercise their franchise. He also urged them to remain peaceful in their conduct during and after the election.

At Seventh Day, Alajue 1, Ward 4, Unit 20 and Alajue 1, Ward 4, Unit 10 as well as Alajue 1, Ward 4, unit 8, Aanu Olu junction in Ede, voting had ended by 8:57 when our correspondent visited.

Similarly at Units 18, 19, 20, Ward 4, Ataoja D in Osogbo, a sizeable crowd of residents who had exercised their franchise was observed.

Most other units visited, particularly in Osogbo, recorded little or no electoral activities and turnout of voters.

 

 

 

 

 

Emmanuel Ukoh