Hon. Lukman Adeleye, Minority Leader of the Ogun State House of Assembly at Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese Ijebu.
Hon. Lukman Adeleye, Minority Leader of the Ogun State House of Assembly, has leveled serious allegations regarding the November 16, 2024, local government elections in Ogun State.
During a live interview on Eagle 102.5 FM’s current affairs program “Frontline”, Adeleye described the election as a mockery, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of voters intimidation and widespread electoral malpractices across polling units.
Adeleye stated that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) intended to use the election to mirror the declining influence of Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun and the APC in the state.
He pointed out that the PDP remains the leading political force in Ogun East and Ogun Central senatorial districts, attributing the reported irregularities to the ruling party’s attempts to cling to power.
“Our goal was simple; “To show the governor and his party how irrelevant they have become. The people of Ogun State have moved on, with the PDP representing the majority in key regions. Unfortunately, the APC resorted to voters intimidation and outright fraud to claim an undeserved victory,” Adeleye remarked.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the election results, which saw the APC sweeping all local government areas.
He described this as part of a broader national trend in which ruling parties manipulate local elections.
“This is bigger than Ogun State. Across Nigeria, ruling parties use their influence to suppress opposition voices and undermine democracy,” he added.
Adeleye urged the state’s electoral commission and independent observers to review the election process and called for greater fairness in future polls.
He also advocated for judicial reform, stating that electoral petitions should not be limited to state high courts.
“The people deserve justice. Democracy cannot thrive where fraud and intimidation are the tools of governance,” Adeleye concluded.
