Kunle Adelabu
The Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Ikorodu Local Government, Dr. Olanrewaju Oshin, has commended the organization of last Saturday’s Local Government Chairmanship and Councillorship elections in Ikorodu, stating that it was an improvement on previous ones.
While stating that it was peaceful, and that security was adequate, the opposition leader also observed that difficulties encountered in searching for names and shortage of ballot papers in some units posed challenges to the election.
PDP which is the main opposition party fielding three Chairmanship and multiple Councillorship candidates for the elections which it lost to the APC.
He spoke with THE IMPACT reporter on the phone after the election on Saturday, to assess the conduct of the poll:
“At least, it was peaceful and it has improved a bit from the other elections. Aside from the difficulties that were encountered during the sorting of the lists for the electorate for voting and shortage of voting materials. Those are the difficulties that were encountered and aside that, everything was fine.
“Security wise, everything also improved than the previous years.”
While reacting to the PDP Chairmanship candidate for the Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA elections who alleged that voters were induced, Dr. Oshin said that there was need for reorientation and voters’ education.
He deplored the situation where residents refused to participate fully in local government elections.
“For that, we have to do with serious orientation. It is on the National Orientation Agency for them to sensitise people on the need for large voters turnout, most especially on local government elections day.
“I don’t really know why the turnout is always low almost all the time during the local government elections. Maybe, we need more publicity to educate our people on the local government, so that there can be high turnout and votes from people for their choice into power,” PDP Chairman said.
