OYO LG election: APC assures members of transparent primaries

THE All Progressives Congress (APC), Oyo State Chapter, has assured chairmanship and councillorship aspirants in the 33 local government councils in the state, that the forthcoming primaries to select its candidates for the local government election later in the year, will be transparent and acceptable to every member of the party.

The Director of Publication, Wasiu Sadare gave the assurance on Monday, saying that the party cannot come out with any guideline for the primary now since the state Independent Electoral Committee (OYSIEC) is yet to release guidelines for the election.

However, he said the party is prepared to play the game by the rule as stipulated by the commission.

“If the party goes ahead and embark on a process now, it will be an exercise in futility because there is no specification yet and we are not ready to risk that as a party. However, several members of the party have been exercising their rights by expressing their interest, which is though, unofficial. At the appropriate time, those concerned will made it known to the party whenever the guideline is released.

“Everybody that shows interest will be given a fair chance to achieve their ambition according to the guideline of our party. There won’t be anointed candidate because the party will conduct primary elections across the state to fill the 351 councillors hip positions and 33 slots for the local government elections.

“As expected, interested aspirants have been lobbying party delegates, leaders and members to join their different trains. We assure all the aspirants that we will conduct primaries. They should continue to work on the delegates and other party members, as soon as we get directive from OYSIEC, we act in due process,” he noted.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi on June 17 sworn in eight members of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) to conduct local government elections in September for the first time in nine years.

The commission members include; are Mr John Ajeigbe as Chairman, Mr Sunday Aborisade,, Mr Adedeji Raimi, Mr David  Adeagbo, Mrs Omolola Odekunbi, Alhaji AbulRasaq Akuru, Mr Lateef Bello and Mr Rasheed Olajire.