By Soliu Mohammed
The 2024 Kwara State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) councillorship candidates have vehemently condemned the blatant disregard for democratic principles and the outright theft perpetrated by the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC) in collaboration with the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the September 21, 2024, local government elections.
At a press conference held at the ABS Constituency office on Thursday in Ilorin, the PDP candidates alleged that KWSIEC, led by Baba Okanla, and the APC, under the leadership of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, made a mockery of the electoral process.
They posited that the actions of KWSIEC and APC were a clear indication of their disregard for the will of the people and their determination to maintain power by any means necessary.
The PDP candidates also appreciated the overwhelming support they received from Kwarans during the LG elections, despite the alleged electoral irregularities. They urged the general public to join them in condemning the electoral “robbery” and demanding justice for the people of Kwara State.
Electoral Irregularities Exposed
The PDP candidates revealed several electoral irregularities that compromised the integrity of the elections. These irregularities include:
- Insufficient Materials and Electoral Officers: The deliberate insufficient presiding officers provided by KWSIEC, which led to the disenfranchisement of many voters. In Offa local government, for instance, elections did not hold at all, but KWSIEC went ahead to announce prepared results.
- Late Opening of Polling Stations: The late opening of several polling stations, which discouraged voters and reduced opposition votes. This was evident in many wards across the state, including Ilorin South, Ilorin East, Asa, and Ilorin West local governments.
- Discrepancies in Vote Counts: The discrepancies in vote counts, which were ignored by KWSIEC. In Warah/Osin/Egbejila Ward of Ilorin West LGA, for example, 39 polling units had only 26 presiding officers allocated, leaving 13 units without presiding officers.
- Fraudulent Declaration of Results: The fraudulent declaration of APC winners in all chairmanship and councillorship positions, despite the alleged electoral irregularities. This, the PDP candidates argued, was a clear indication of result manipulation.
Demand for Justice and Electoral Reforms
The PDP candidates demanded that the Kwara State government takes immediate action to address the electoral irregularities and ensure that justice is served. They called on the government to:
- Conduct a thorough investigation into the electoral irregularities and bring perpetrators to book.
- Implement electoral reforms to prevent future occurrences of electoral malpractices.
- Ensure that the will of the people is respected and that the true winners of the elections are declared.
The PDP candidates also demanded that the Kwara State government takes immediate action to address salary disparities and called for a comprehensive review of the salary structure. They argued that the current salary structure is unfair and has led to widespread discontent among workers in the state.
The PDP candidates also expressed concern over the ineffectiveness of the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP). Despite billions allocated to it yearly, the programme has failed to alleviate poverty in the state. The candidates argued that the programme’s inability to provide meaningful support to the most vulnerable members of society is a clear indication of its ineffectiveness.
They called on all well-meaning Kwarans and Nigerians to support them in fighting for democracy and justice. They urged the public to remain vigilant and committed to the cause of reclaiming the state from those who have hijacked it.
“We will not rest until justice is served and the will of the people is respected,” the PDP candidates said. “We call on all Kwarans to join us in this fight for democracy and justice.”
