The readiness of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State for the forthcoming local government elections has been affirmed.
In a statement issued by the PDP State Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, the party emphasized its commitment to not endorse any illegal actions that are strategically crafted as traps to invalidate the election results if they do not align with the government in power’s interests.
The party expressed its support for a recent court ruling that halted the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC) from proceeding with the scheduled local government elections set for September 21, 2024, pending the resolution of the case.
It was noted that the court order was a significant win for the people of Kwara State who have been eagerly anticipating local government elections since 2019, thwarting a deliberate scheme by the state Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, to surprise the residents before the upcoming elections.
The statement mentioned, “Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, in collaboration with KWSIEC, intentionally breached certain provisions of the Electoral Act to create a scenario where, if the election results do not favor the Governor, he could simply manipulate the nullification of the elections in court, citing a lack of adherence to electoral guidelines.”
The PDP’s prompt response effectively foiled this devious plan, assuring that the people’s aspirations will not be crushed by the political strategies of Governor Abdulrahaman.
The party emphasized its preparedness for the elections, highlighting that they were the first to submit candidates’ names and credentials for all the 16 LGA chairmanship and 193 councilorship positions to KWSIEC. However, the party acknowledged its duty to shield the people from the political traps set by Governor Abdulrazaq and his party.
It was evident, the statement claimed, that Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq was not genuinely ready for the local government elections but was coerced into a corner by the Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy.
The statement concluded, “This legal intervention has protected the Kwara voters from falling into a meticulously set trap. The restraining order stands as proof of PDP’s vigilant efforts to safeguard the democratic rights of the people of Kwara State.”
The Kwara PDP urged all stakeholders to stay alert and prevent any form of manipulation that could enable state Governors’ representatives to mismanage resources intended for the Local Government Councils, which are crucial for the people’s development.