Ondo: PDP Set To Participate In Local Government Election

By Ayodele Oni

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, is putting machinery in motion to participate in the local government election due to hold in the state in December, contrary to the past when it advised members to boycott.

Chairman of the state PDP, Fatai Adams, who disclosed this to Journalists in Akure on Thursday, expressed optimism that the party will come out strong, expressing the hope that the election will be free and fair.

“Local Goverment is the third tier of government which is closest to the people at the grassroots. Unfortunately it has been completely paralysed, only serving as a salary payment agency of the State Government, rather than serving the grassroot people as enshrined in the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended).

“Gone are the days when local government administration under the PDP was alive to its constitutional responsibilities. Gone are the days when local governments embarked on construction of rural roads, markets and other social amenities at the grassroots. Gone are the days when capable and tested hands were in charge of government at the grassroots.

“It is against this background that our party will participate in the Local Government Election, so as to bring development to the grassroots again, as it was under previous PDP administrations.

“Our resolve to participate is to reverse the uneventful and uninspiring narratives. It is to restore the lost glory of local government administration and its pride.

“This resolve is deliberate and we are conscious of the agenda of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to continue to muzzle the local government administrations by foisting his stooges on the people.

“We can therefore gauge his temperature and the mood of the APC as well as the inconveniences this our resolve may cause its members who erroneously see local government as their cash cow, being the reward for their hypocrisy and sycophancy to the Governor.

This time around, APC will be resisted by the grassroot people who have been bearing the brunt of inept, colourless, unenviable, dry and retrogressive governance at that very important layer of government.

“We assure the general public that we are prepared to participate in the electoral contest with the fervent hope that the Governor and his APC will allow the Commission to perform its role without undue interference and interruptions.

“As a party, we have put necessary machinery in motion which will culminate in our electoral victory at the polls and we are participating to win by the grace of God.”