The embattled 68 chairmen of Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Authorities (LGs and LCDAs) in Oyo State have condemned the State Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) for rolling out election time table while still awaiting Supreme Court judgement on their ‘illegal and unconstitutional’ sack by the present Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration.
It would be recalled that OYSIEC last week rolled out election time table, indicating that the local government polls will hold on 15th of May, 2021. Meanwhile, Supreme Court ruling on the case is slated for 7th of May, 2021.
The Chairmen, under the umbrella of Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), described OYSIEC’s action as illegal, saying “Governor Makinde’s penchant for lawlessness and executive rascality is unequalled.”
It would also be recalled that the sacked ALGON chairmen were elected during the administration of late Governor Abiola Ajimobi in May 12th 2018, and were sworn in on May 14th 2018, while their tenure is expected to end on May 14th 2021, but they were sacked on May 29th, 2019 by Governor Makinde.
Addressing a press conference in Ibadan on Monday, chairman of the sacked chairmen, Prince Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, said “While all the parties to the suit are expected to await the judgment for final closure since the Supreme Court judgement is the apex court, it’s surprising to see that Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, OYSIEC, a party to the suit and well represented at Supreme Court, prompted by Gov. Seyi Makinde, went ahead to publish a timetable for local government elections which it intends to conduct on May 15, 2021, eight days after the expected Supreme Court judgement on May 7.”
Abass-Aleshinloye said OYSIEC decision portrays picture of lawless mindset of political gangsters who have no respect for democracy, democratic process, ethics and peace but only addicted to power without responsibility.
He stressed that the implication of government’s decision to conduct local government election and the ‘governor’s usual arrogant abuse of power’ could be adduced to four main reasons without waiting for Supreme Court Judgement, which include:
“Governor Makinde may have perfected way to buy off the judgment as being boasted by his political acolytes and street boys. But this may be very difficult for him to achieve because of the integrity of the bench and their precedent judgments on similar cases like ours.”
“It may be an organised OYSIEC’s “come and contest” election scam, an election advance fee fraud where many unsuspecting candidates will be encouraged to invest in election that may never hold. But like in ‘yahoo yahoo’ deal, many would have been fleeced of their hard earned money.”
“The Governor may be planning an “executive coup” against the Supreme Court judgement if it does not favour him by going ahead with the election after the judgment even if it doesn’t favour him and his government. He will encourage his handpicked “elected” chairmen and councilors to go to court and obtain an injunction to challenge returned elected chairmen on the basis of lapsed tenure in case Supreme Court does not make a declaratory judgment on continuation of tenure. This will be another illegal step to return the state to another unnecessary legal crisis.”
“The Governor and his election merchants team may just be grandstanding in a wild flight of fantasy just for psychological relief in order to give a false hope of judicial victory instead of uncertainty of where the pendulum of justice swings in the protracted case.”
When asked about ALGON’s confidence in the Supreme Court, Abass-Aleshinloye reiterated the association’s trust in the judicial system of the country, stressing that ALGON is a law abiding association and would do everything within its power to avoid violence in his quest for justice.
“A case is in Supreme Court for judgement on May 7 and OYSIEC, which is a party to the case, has gone ahead to fix May 15 to conduct another local government election. What if ALGON wins its case and the Supreme Court restores our mandate with specific pronouncement that the elected local government chairmen and councilors should return to office and spend the remaining two years of their tenure? What will become of the huge financial resources running into billions of Naira that OYSIEC would have wasted on pre-election jamboree for an election that may not hold by virtue of the Judgement that may give victory to elected chairmen and councilors? What would happen to candidates that OYSIEC collected money for collection of forms from? This is apart from multi-million Naira state fund that will be allocated under the pretext of preparing for election that may not hold if ALGON wins at the Supreme Court.” He stated.
The embattled ALGON called on all political parties in the state not to participate in the election as it would lead nowhere, according to them.
“Caveat Emptor:
We advise political parties and candidates not to invest in OYSIEC electoral process which will lead to nowhere if ALGON wins at the Supreme Court on May 7, 2021. Don’t be scammed. After May 7 judgement, the political climate will be clear to all and sundry and nobody will be scammed.”
” On this point, we call on OYSIEC to stop the process of its scammed election, it’s illegal, presumptuous, wasteful and unnecessary.” He concluded.