The Labour Party in Ogun State has strongly condemned the conduct of the November 16, 2024, local government elections, alleging widespread irregularities and disenfranchisement of voters.
At a press conference held on Saturday, Lookman Jagun, the state chairman of the party, described the election as a “sham,” claiming it failed to meet the minimum standards for a legitimate electoral process.
He emphasized that the party would not accept any results arising from the election, according to Daily Post.
Jagun criticized Babatunde Osibodu, the chairman of the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission, for failing to ensure a fair election. He stated that the election process in the state fell far short of the required standards, claiming that there was no election in the state and that voters were intentionally prevented from participating.
According to the Labour Party, over 90 percent of polling units across the state saw no OGSIEC officials or election materials by 1:30 pm. Many supporters of the party were reportedly forced to leave polling stations after waiting for hours without being able to vote. At other locations where election materials were eventually delivered, some supporters were allegedly chased away, and those who resisted were subjected to violence.
Jagun also pointed to earlier remarks made by Governor Dapo Abiodun, who had predicted a sweeping victory for the ruling All Progressives Congress, and accused the party of attempting to rig the election through intimidation and violence.
He said: “Sadly, the Chairman of OGSIEC, Babatunde Osibodu, has failed to use the opportunity of the local government election to distinguish himself. What took place in Ogun State today falls short of the minimum standard required for the conduct of an election.
“There was no election whatsoever in the whole of Ogun State. The good people of Ogun State were deliberately disenfranchised and prevented from using their votes to express their dissatisfaction with the failure of governance in the state.
“There was no election whatsoever in virtually all the polling units in Ogun State. OGSIEC officials were nowhere to be seen in over 90 per cent of the polling units, and there were no election materials at the polling units as of 1.30 pm.”
The Labour Party has called for the cancellation of the entire election, asserting that it violated Ogun State’s electoral laws. The party has vowed not to accept any declared results from what it described as a fraudulent election process.
He continued: “You will recall that the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, had earlier boasted that the opposition was invincible and that APC was going to sweep the polls. They plan to rig the election in the most crude and barbaric manner, and they have just demonstrated it with today’s charade. Ogun State is the gateway state and we expect better from OGSIEC.
“We totally reject whatever results are declared in this sham of an election. Even the good people of Ogun State have been expressing their opinions on radio and television that there was no election in Ogun State.”
