By Comrade Allen Sowore, Esq.
In a surprising turn of events, less than 72 hours before the January 18, 2025, Local Government Election in Ondo State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) announced its withdrawal from the election. This dramatic decision was made without consulting the 15 chairmanship candidates across 15 local government areas and 131 councillorship candidates earlier sponsored for the election.
The PDP’s chairmanship candidate for Akure South Local Government Area (LGA), Tuyi Adelami, alongside other councillorship candidates, has expressed outrage over the party’s unilateral decision. They described it as a denial of their democratic rights and claimed they were not adequately consulted. Speaking on behalf of himself and his colleagues, Adelami labeled the party’s actions as an infringement on their rights.
The statement announcing the withdrawal, issued by the party’s state secretary, Oluseye Olujimi, Esq., reflects a lack of organization and coordination within the party. It appears to be an illegal, mischievous, and grossly incompetent decision. By electoral laws and party constitutions in Nigeria, it is the national organ of a political party that nominates and sponsors candidates for elections. This is a legal issue that may warrant further examination in the future.
The PDP now bears a moral burden of democratic contradictions, selfishness, and inconsistency. In 2023, the party obtained a court order restraining the state government from inaugurating caretaker committees to administer the LGAs in the state. Justice Yemi Fasanmi, on December 21, 2023, granted an interlocutory injunction to the PDP, pending the determination of the suit.
Following the court’s decision, the state government complied and directed the Heads of Local Government Administration in all LGAs/LCDAs to assume responsibility in an acting capacity. The matter was later resolved out of court, with the understanding that the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) would conduct the local government elections at the earliest opportunity.
It is important to note that the PDP actively participated in the process until its resounding defeat in the November 16, 2024, Governorship Election, dubbed “18-0.” This unprecedented loss appears to have influenced the party’s withdrawal from the LG election, possibly out of fear of a similar outcome.
While the PDP has the right to participate in or withdraw from any election, its policy reversal raises questions about its credibility and commitment to democratic principles. However, the withdrawal does not undermine the credibility of the January 18 election or the people’s right to freely elect their leaders at the grassroots level, as guaranteed by Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
The absence of one party among the 14 participating political parties merely simplifies the path for others vying for the 18 local government seats.
For the good people of Ondo State and lovers of democracy, January 18, 2025, remains sacrosanct!
Allen Sowore, Esq.
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Strategic Communication
January 17, 2025
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