The Labour Party in Ogun State has expressed discontent regarding the local government elections held on November 16, 2024, citing significant irregularities and the disenfranchisement of voters.
The party’s state chairman, Lookman Jagun, conveyed this sentiment during an emergency press conference at the party’s secretariat on Saturday, asserting that the elections did not meet the essential standards necessary for a legitimate electoral process.
Jagun characterized the election as a farce and stated that the party would not accept any results that may be announced following the election.
He lamented that the Chairman of OGSIEC, Babatunde Osibodu, has squandered the opportunity to demonstrate his capabilities during the local government elections.
According to him, the events that transpired in Ogun State today are inadequate and fail to meet the fundamental criteria for conducting an election.
“There was no election whatsoever in the whole of Ogun State. The good people of Ogun State were deliberately disenfranchised and prevented from using their votes to express their dissatisfaction with the failure of governance in the state.
“There was no election whatsoever in virtually all the polling units in Ogun State. OGSIEC officials were nowhere to be seen in over 90 per cent of the polling units, and there were no election materials at the polling units as of 1.30 pm,” Jagun said.
The Labour Party chieftain stated that the party’s supporters were compelled to vacate certain polling stations after enduring lengthy waits to cast their votes.
In contrast, at other locations where the necessary materials had been provided, supporters were allegedly chased out from the polling units, and those who resisted were met with physical violence and other aggressive actions.
Jagun added: “You will recall that the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, had earlier boasted that the opposition was invincible and that APC was going to sweep the polls. They plan to rig the election in the most crude and barbaric manner, and they have just demonstrated it with today’s charade. Ogun State is the gateway state and we expect better from OGSIEC.
“We totally reject whatever results are declared in this sham of an election. Even the good people of Ogun State have been expressing their opinions on radio and television that there was no election in Ogun State.”
The party demanded that OGSIEC call off the entire poll, saying it was done against Ogun State electoral law and that the party would not accept any results declared.