Parties disagree on conduct of LG poll

The Ogun chapter of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) is divided over the conduct of Saturday’s poll into the 20 local government councils and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.

The state’s Chairman of IPAC, Alhaji Moshood Adesina, had said on Sunday in Abeokuta that the body  carefully reviewed the entire electoral process and was satisfied with the result announced by the electoral body.

But three members of the council—Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party(LP) and Unity Party of Nigeria(UPN)– dissociated themselves from the position of the body.

Adesina, however, described the poll as free, fair and credible.

“Guided by reports from our individual party agents across the state and after a careful study and deliberation of same, we hereby declare the poll free, fair and credible,” he said.

He noted that the conduct was transparent and inclusive, adding that a level playing field was provided for all the parties in the contest

Adesina, however, condemned “the few instances where disgruntled elements attempted to snatch ballot boxes or intimidate voters.’’

The chairman commended the electoral body for the “independent manner” in which the poll was conducted.

He also commended the media, security agents and other stakeholders for their various roles in making the poll successful.

But PDP, LP and UPN at separate press conferences called for the cancellation of the poll.

They hinged their arguments on the fact that the poll was characterised by violence and gross electoral irregularities.

The leadership of the South-West Zone of the PDP at a press conference on Sunday described the conduct of the poll as “unacceptable, condemnable and ridiculous.’’

The PDP Secretary in the zone, Bunmi Jenyo, alleged that election materials were not supplied in many polling centres while there were sporadic shootings in many areas to scare voters away.

He also alleged that the process was masterminded to perpetuate the ruling APC in power.

Jenyo, therefore, called for the cancellation of the poll.