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Crises rock Osun councils over choice of chairmen

By Muyiwa Adeyemi (Ibadan) and Tunji Omofoye (Osogbo)
14 February 2018   |   1:37 am
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had boycotted the election.But Governor Rauf Aregbesola had last week sworn-in the elected councilors at the Local Council Development Authority (LCDAs) and local councils of the state all of who won on the platform of the APC.

Aregbesola

Ajimobi denies plans to impose candidates

Crises trailed the election of local councils chairmen in Osun State yesterday, as aggrieved party supporters resisted imposition of candidates by government officials.The state government had during the recent local council election introduced parliamentary system, which witnessed the return of all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had boycotted the election.But Governor Rauf Aregbesola had last week sworn-in the elected councilors at the Local Council Development Authority (LCDAs) and local councils of the state all of who won on the platform of the APC.

He had directed them to go to the council to elect their chairmen in accordance with the parliamentary system of government, which he intended to operate at the council level.

However, reports from some of the centers indicated that violence charaterised the election in some councils, a situation that left several party supporters injured

The Guardian learnt that imposition of candidates by top government officials, which was resisted by party members, was the hallmark of the exercise. Specifically, Ife-East, Modakeke, Oriade, Atakumasa West, Ilesa West, Ayedaade and Iwo local councils, among others were said to have witnessed series of crisis.It took intervention of security agencies in the areas led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Akinlade Adio, before the situation was brought under control.

Meanwhile, Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, yesterday denied plans to impose candidates in the local council election slated for May.Reacting to some APC members who staged a peaceful protest in Oke-Ado, Ibadan Secretariat of the party on Monday where they alleged that the governor had perfected plans to impose candidate on them, Ajimobi assured them that the primaries would be free and fair.  

He gave the assurance while addressing hundreds of party faithful at the empowerment programme organised by the senator representing Oyo North District, Fatai Buhari at Iseyin. The senator distributed 32 vehicles, 300 motorcycles, several electric transformers, grinding machines, sewing machines and scholarships for several students. Ajimobi said he would support the choice of party members in every council whether they embrace direct or indirect primary.

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