By James Ogunnaike

Ogun State chapter of Labour Party, LP, called on the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission, OGSIEC, to allow the people’s votes count, during the forthcoming council elections, scheduled to take place on November 16, in all the 20 local government areas in the State.

The Chairman of Labour Party in the State, Engr. Lookman Jagun, made the call in Abeokuta, while flagging off campaign for the council election in the State.

According to Jagun, the party is aware of the plans of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in the State to rig the election, saying that LP will resist it with the help of the people of Ogun state, who are yearning for change of government, especially at the grassroots.

He said, “We are aware of the plans of the ruling party to rig the election as Governor Dapo Abiodun has openly declared that APC will win the election in the entire 20 chairmanship positions and 236 councillorship position in the state based on the scorecard of the party. If I may ask, what is the scorecard of the APC? APC has brought nothing but hunger, misery, poverty, suffering, and tears to the people.”

“Their plan is to rig the election, but we are going to resist it with the help of the impoverished and pauperised people of Ogun state.

“The Chairman of OGSIEC has a golden opportunity to write his name in gold by conducting a free, fair and credible election. He has a choice of either making the votes of the people count or being a puppet of the state government. The governor also has the same opportunity of writing his name in gold by allowing the will of the people to prevail, as demonstrated by their votes at the polls”.

While describing LP as a major opposition party in the State, Jagun noted that the party will not just contest the Local Government election, but offer hope in place of hopelessness, progress as an alternative to retrogression, and a fresh vision that will put joy in the hearts of the people and smiles on their faces.

“Our local governments should be centers of infrastructural development, primary healthcare, service delivery, transparency and accountability. Unfortunately, the reverse has been the case. The majority of our people still lack access to basic social amenities like good roads, drainages, primary healthcare, portable water supply and quality primary education. We have watched as opportunities have been frittered and squandered, while the needs of the people have been ignored”.

“The Labour Party stands for a new beginning, a new dawn and a new era. A future where the interest of the good people of Ogun State comes first, far and above every other interest. A future where resources are managed and put to good use for the benefit of the people”, he said. 

Jagun highlighted four cardinal objectives of his party which include; 

infrastructural development, agricultural revolution, provision of efficient primary healthcare system as well as transparency and accountability.