…says democracy must base on people’s choice, not party entitlement

By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the August 16 bye-election for Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency, in Ogun State, Bola Oluwole, has rejected the proposal by his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Adesola Elegbeji, for constitutional review that would allow political parties to retain legislative seats without elections in the event of lawmakers’ death.

Oluwole, who was reacting to a comment credited to Elegbeji, while featuring at “An Evening with the Press” organized by the Ogun State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, described the proposal as undemocratic, self-serving and threat to the core values of Nigeria’s electoral system.

According to him “amending the existing law now or later to suit a party’s convenience is like shifting the goalpost in the middle of a match,” Oluwole stated in a statement he made available to newsmen in Abeokuta.

He said, “democracy thrives on the will of the people. The fact that a particular party won a previous election, does not mean that, that position becomes its permanent birthright. The people must always have a say.”

Hon. Oluwole was responding to comments made by Elegbeji during a press event in Abeokuta, where the APC candidate lamented that her party should not be made to go through another electoral contest following the unfortunate death of their lawmaker, the late Hon. Adewunmi Onanuga, who passed away earlier this year.

It would be recalled that Elegbeji described the bye-election has “double punishment” for the APC and suggested that political parties should, in the future, be allowed to simply “appoint a replacement without going through an election.”

Oluwole condemned the suggestion as a veiled attempt to bypass the democratic process and impose candidates on the people.

“If they truly believe they are popular, why are they afraid of a fair contest?” he asked.

“Every seat must be contested for base on competence, integrity and the capacity to deliver, not handed over like a family inheritance.”

He added that the Constitution and Electoral Act were never designed to protect political parties, but to protect the rights and sovereignty of the electorates.

“This by-election is not a reward for grief, it is a duty to democracy. Let the people decide. That’s what democracy is all about.”

The PDP candidate in the bye-election urged the people of Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency to reject any attempt to manipulate the electoral process, stressing that they should use the August 16 bye-election to assert their power through the ballot.

“This is not about party politics alone, it is about protecting our democracy from the hands of those who wish to weaken it for their selfish interests.