Over 4,900 candidates are set to vie for 33 chairmanship and 351 councillorship seats within the forthcoming native authorities election in Oyo State.
A complete of 19 political events are to take part within the election scheduled for April 27 with events just like the ruling Peoples Democratic Occasion (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), New Nigeria Peoples Occasion (NNPP), Labour Occasion (LP), Zenith Labour Occasion (ZLP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) having candidates unfold throughout all native authorities areas.
Chairman, Oyo State Unbiased Electoral Fee (OYSIEC), Mr Isiaka Olagunju made this identified in a dialog with the Nigerian Tribune, following the completion of screening of listing of candidates.
Requested about petitions acquired by the fee to this point, Olagunju mentioned it had acquired two petitions difficult the certificates of some candidates.
In the meantime, the 19 events contesting the election are upbeat in regards to the possibilities of their candidates, with events like Boot Occasion (BP), Nationwide Rescue Motion (NRM), Allied Peoples Motion (APM) stating that they fielded candidates solely in the place they think about their sturdy areas.
Whereas the foremost opposition, the APC mentioned it was going to place up an amazing struggle towards the PDP, the ruling occasion within the state mentioned it was so widespread that it will defeat even a coalition of the APC and different events.
Publicity Secretary, Oyo APC, Mr Olawale Sadare mentioned it was contesting to alter the established order of the ruling occasion sweeping native authorities elections due to its concern to rescue the native authorities system, which it mentioned had been bastardised by the PDP led authorities within the state.
Sadare mentioned: “That is the primary time a serious opposition occasion will take part in native authorities election. Since we began this democratic dispensation since 1999, it has at all times been a one-sided factor, the foremost political occasion by no means participated.
“We’re altering the established order. We wish to work for the folks. It gained’t be enterprise as regular. PDP must be prepared for an excellent struggle. Their plan is to utterly annihilate the third tier of presidency and we is not going to enable that to occur.
“We wish to revamp, resuscitate the native authorities system within the state which has been bastardised by the present administration. We wish to give folks a option to rescue the native authorities system within the state.”
However, the PDP, via its publicity secretary, Mr Micheal Ogunsina, expressed confidence that the election can be a simple trip for the PDP, saying it will defeat even a coalition of APC and different events.
He hinged his confidence on what he described because the love and recognition of Governor Seyi Makinde within the State, including that identical to the PDP was massively supported within the governorship election, it will additionally get large votes of individuals within the native authorities election.
Ogunsina mentioned: “I actually assume it is going to be a simple trip for the PDP. I don’t assume the participation of the opposition events will change something. I don’t assume they’re that widespread. I do know they aren’t that attention-grabbing to folks of Oyo State.
“PDP is the occasion to beat in Oyo State. If all of the opposition come collectively to type a coalition towards us within the forthcoming native authorities election, they are going to be defeated. We’re that widespread.
“The PDP in Oyo State is Seyi Makinde’s occasion. Seyi Makinde is the governor beloved by the folks and they are going to be prepared to make sure that their representatives on the native authorities degree are in sync with the state authorities. There may be nothing to be petrified of.”