Many months ago, I contended that the much-awaited local government is a fixed game – as every ruling party in the state is notorious for perpetrating electoral fraud, manipulation, and malpractice often in broad daylight with the cooperation and collaboration of other critical stakeholders.
I noted that our experience in the state is not different from what was obtainable and witnessed in other states of the federation where governors act with impunity, reign supreme and impose candidates without regard and respect for the people they claimed to rule.
Renowned for always lording and installing their lackeys and puppets in charge of local government affairs, state Governors across the country have made a name for themselves in the grand scheme of political and electoral cheating. In various reports across the federation, local government elections have become the easiest window for politicians to flex their muscles, intimidate their opponents, and tweak the wills and wishes of the people with mirthful abandon.
My assumption was quite simple and relatable: experience and events of the past have shown the state government’s rigid position in the affairs of the people at the grassroots.
Take the last council poll in the last twelve years. The eight-year rule of Senator Abiola Ajimobi was characterized by ruling APC clearing all the available seats with ease, sending a strong warning that it will not tolerate the rise of dissenters and political cynics. But PDP came with a bag full of promises.
First, it allowed the opposition APC to participate. In the process, the APC has displayed an unwavering, unimaginable and unbelievable commitment and dedication to the electioneering process. Much to the chagrin of the PDP, the party has mobilized resources to the tune of millions, held rallies with intimidating crowds and believed the coast is clear for them. Contrary to the wide-held speculations flying around in various communities, this election has redefined the noise and razzmatazz surrounding the local council election. A walk in the past.
‘2007’
The last council election that raised dust and generated heated debate was in 2007 when the ruling PDP allowed the defunct ACN to contest. While the election was marred by electoral irregularities, the various activities that preceded the poll disrupted the usual speculation and sentiment that had permeated the previous exercise.
Of course, PDP cleared all the available seats but it gave the opposition a sense of belonging. That was in the government of the late Adebayo Alao-Akala. In 1999, the local council election was also a tug-of-war between the PDP and AD in Oyo State. Likewise in 2003, the election was fraught with tension but ended up favoring the ruling PDP. However, in all the exercises, credibility and transparency were largely lost in the grand scheme of things. In the years that followed 2007, nothing like a free and fair contest ever took place. Late Abiola Ajimobi either set up a caretaker committee for the local council or conducted a jamboree election that was a slap in the wrist of people’s ambitions and aspirations. For eight years, the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) only conducted a council poll to satisfy the whims and caprices of the APC. In a way, late Abiola Ajimobi lowered the bar of local council election and even snuffed lives out of their existence. His template is now being copied by his predecessor, Seyi Makinde with more brazenness.
‘2021’
When Governor Seyi Makinde came on board in 2019, he promised to conduct a local government election. Even though he started with a caretaker arrangement, he soon kept his word by funding OYSIEC. But like his predecessors, Governor Makinde knew allowing the main opposition to test their popularity may not end well for his re-election. He cleverly blocked them from contesting.
At the end of the contest, his party, PDP, cleared all the seats. In various towns and villages, Makinde’s action was seen as the norm. Many believe that it is the person who pays the pipers that dictates the tunes. Not much was expected as it is a general assumption that no sitting Governor would allow his party to suffer in the hands of the opposition that was determined to give them a run for their money.
‘2024’
To keep up with his words, Governor Makinde equally promised to conduct another local government election that would feature the main opposition parties. The news was well received across the nooks and crannies as preparation for the poll began in earnest. True to his words, opposition members were allowed to procure nomination forms, and that gave the election a semblance of contest. This columnist wrote a scathing article denouncing the Governor’s Greek gift to the opposition. I wrote: the next local government election is supposed to evoke some sense of optimism and excitement. That people in all the 33 local councils of Oyo state will have the incredible opportunity to vote for candidates of tier choice in a poll that will see 18 different parties slug it out with each other. Unfortunately, that excitement, optimism, and enthusiasm are almost inaudible as they’re muted. Nothing of high expectations in that contest is on the line. The usual razzmatazz that surrounds elections is lost in the high-handedness with which the state government has managed the affairs of government considered closer to the people.
But I was wrong. This election has all the elements of politics and politicking. The excitement and expectations that followed can only be compared with those of the general election.
‘Makinde’s Credibility on the line’
Much of the sentiments in the town favored Governor Seyi Makinde. But now, the credibility of this poll will either advance or deflate the widespread opinion around the Governor. A transparent local government election will renew people’s trust and restore their confidence in his government. Anything sort of that will mark the precipitous fall of his popularity, acceptability, and of course believability.
OYO101 is Muftau Gbadegesin’s opinion about issues affecting Oyo state and is published every Saturday. He can be reached via @muftaugbade on X, muftaugbadegesin@gmail.com and 09065176850.
