The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo State chapter, has revealed that it will fully participate in the forthcoming local government polls scheduled to hold on December 16, 2023.

According to the party, its decision to partake in the electoral process was taken after extensive consultation with its leaders and members.

The chairman of the party in the state, Fatai Adams, posited that the PDP would be fielding tested and trusted community members who know their onions at the grassroots level, adding that boycotting has never helped anyone.

The Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) Chairman, Dr. Joseph Aremu, made the declaration of the coming election at a stakeholders meeting at its secretariat, Oba Ile Road, recently.

While stressing that the local government, which is the third tier of government, has been paralysed in the state, Adams maintained that that was not the situation when the PDP was in power.

The PDP Chairman, who maintained that the APC would be resisted at the polls, alleged that Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu had continued to muzzle the local government administration.

He said: “Local government is the third tier of government that is closest to the people at the grassroots. Unfortunately, it has been completely paralyzed, only serving as a salary payment agency of the state government rather than serving the grassroot people as enshrined in the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended).

“Gone are the days when local government administration under the PDP was alive to its constitutional responsibilities. Gone are the days when local governments embarked on the construction of rural roads, markets, and other social amenities at the grassroots. Gone are the days when capable and tested hands were in charge of government at the grassroots.

“It is against this background that our party will participate in the local government election, so as to bring development to the grassroots again, as it was under previous PDP administrations.

“Our resolve to participate is to reverse the uneventful and uninspiring narratives. It is to restore the lost glory of local government administration and its pride.

“This resolve is deliberate, and we are conscious of the agenda of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to continue to muzzle the local government administrations by foisting his stooges on the people.

“We can therefore gauge his temperature and the mood of the APC, as well as the inconveniences this resolve may cause its members, who erroneously see local government as their cash cow, as the reward for their hypocrisy and sycophancy to the Governor.

“This time around, APC will be resisted by the grassroot people who have been bearing the brunt of inept, colorless, unenviable, dry, and retrogressive governance at that very important layer of government.

Adams further stressed that “we are however using this opportunity to call on the ODIEC to perform its role as an impartial arbiter, which should not rob Peter to pay Paul.

“We are passionately appealing to the Chairman and other members of the Commission to always act on the side of the people, bearing in mind that their commission is being financed by the tax payers’ money and not from the APC government, which merely appointed them.

“They should ensure the utmost transparency of the electoral process, exhibit the decency, decorum, and discipline that are expected of their high offices, and not compromise for any self-serving or pecuniary gains so that posterity will be kind to them at the end of the day.

“We are assuring you and the general public that we are prepared to participate in the electoral contest with the fervent hope that the Governor and his APC will allow the Commission to perform its role without undue interference and interruptions.

“As a party, we have put the necessary machinery in motion, which will culminate in our electoral victory at the polls, and we are participating to win by the grace of God.”