The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Oyo State may not participate in the May 12 local government elections in the state if the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission fails to provide answers to some questions posed by the PDP.

This was made known by the Oyo state secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Emiola Adebayo Wasiu while featuring as a guest on the program ''Community Today'' an online TV program on CEOAfrica.

Mr. Emiola frowned at the way OYSIEC is handling the preparations over the conduct of local government elections in the state.

According to the PDP secretary, OYSIEC needs to come out clean on why it has backtracked on its earlier promise to conduct election in only the thirty-three constitutionally approved local government areas of the state since election has never been conducted in the newly created local council development areas (LCDA), by Governor Abiola Ajimobi early last year. Mr. Emiola also queried the rationale behind the non-disclosure of the number of units that will make up a ward in the new created LCDAs as well as the number of Councilors that each of the LCDA will produce.

While responding to a question whether PDP will participate in the election, he said ''why I cannot answer is that, there are grey areas that are really begging for answers from OYSIEC, PDP is still studying the body language of the state independent electoral commission. However, the outcome of our meeting and the answers to the questions the party will raise before OYSIEC will determine our participation in the election. PDP will never participate in any charade”.

Coalition by Obasanjo

On the coalition that was formed by former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the former Commissioner of State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), dismissed their threat saying they could only pose a threat to the ruling party because, the promoter of the coalition was their former mentor and a friend who had long parted ways with the PDP. Mr. Emiola explained that, if the coalition ends up being a movement they will only be willing to negotiate with the PDP since APC is no longer an option. 

Responding to a question on the readiness of the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a free, fair and credible elections in 2019, the PDP stalwart passed a vote of no confidence on the current INEC siting the cases of inconclusive elections as a major reason for his claim. He noted that since the present INEC came on board, several cases of rerun elections have been witnessed in Nigeria accusing them of looking for ways to manipulate the outcome of rerun elections. He therefore urged Nigerians to register and get their PVC so as to chase the present government out of power come 2019.

The PDP secretary expressed optimism in his party returning to power in Oyo state come 2019, Saying “''I will tell you that we are really rebranded. The present Ajimobi administration or government during the 2015 election was able to gather thirty something percentage. Nearly all those who share the remaining percentage among themselves are now together in one party''.

He explained that, with the caliber of leaders such as Senator Rasheed Ladoja in PDP, victory is certain in 2019 governorship election in the state. “I am not saying Senator Rasheed Ladoja is a saint but, when it comes to planning and good management of resources, I think he's above his colleagues. He is not associated with failures, anything that he thinks he cannot win he will not start it and the records are there. I strongly believe that, with the kind of leadership Senator Rasheed Ladoja will give us in Oyo state and with the kind of leadership the national party is now championing, the best will come out in Oyo state PDP''.

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