EXCLUSIVE: LG Autonomy: ‘Candidates Not Loyal To Me Will Be Blocked; Says Nigerian Governor
As Ogun State prepares for November’s local government elections, Governor Dapo Abiodun has issued a stern warning to aspiring All Progressives Congress candidates, conditioning their eligibility on loyalty to him.
In a meeting with select party leaders last Sunday, Abiodun emphasised that only those who pledge allegiance will be allowed to contest, according to sources at the meeting.
In the face of the local government autonomy, it was learnt that Governor Abiodun warned the APC leaders across the state that candidates who do not pledge allegiance to him or not loyal to him would not be allowed to contest for the forthcoming local government elections in the state.
Sources said the contentious meeting, characterised by authoritarian undertones, took place at the Presidential Lodge, now being used as Governor Dapo Abiodun’s official residence. Scheduled for 2 pm, it commenced at 6 pm. Abiodun directed party leaders to ensure only loyal APC candidates, pledged to him alone, emerge.
It was learnt that Abiodun directed party leaders to suspend local campaigning, narrow candidate selection to one or two, and guarantee the emergence of candidates loyal to him, amidst the new local government autonomy.
Sources said Governor Abiodun stressed that loyalty would determine candidacy, warning of disqualification and replacement for the uncertain. Having secured his second term without party leader support, he claimed unconditional control. Abiodun also addressed potential defectors, vowing electoral defeat.
He also told them that information reaching him was to the effect that some APC leaders are planning to dump the party and field their candidates under other political parties.
To those people, it was learnt that Abiodun boasted that they will be roundly defeated in the election which will be conducted under his watch by the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC).
He reportedly told the gathering that since he is not contesting for a third term in office, he fears nobody again or the consequences of his action as a governor.
APC members and loyalists in Ogun State have voiced deep concerns about Governor Abiodun’s authoritarian inclinations and heavy-handed approach, fearing harm to the party’s interests and democratic principles.
They caution that his insistence on handpicking candidates threatens true democracy and local government autonomy.
They compared the Governor’s actions to a departing guest’s last-ditch effort to leave a damaging legacy, cautioning that his excessive ambitions must be thwarted.
They call on all well-meaning and committed party leaders in the state to stand up against the governor’s undemocratic tendencies within the party, warning that if untamed, such tendencies are capable of undermining President Bola Tinubu’s strident efforts at entrenching democratic values and promoting local government autonomy in the state.
“Dapo Abiodun is simply trying to recruit his cronies as local government council chairmen who would not only be puppets but serve as conduits for syphoning local government funds.
“It’s all about converting the resources of the state for his personal use and it’s very unfortunate that the governor is also playing God,” said one of the party leaders who attended the governor’s briefing.
When SaharaReporters contacted Governor Abiodun’s Special Adviser on Media, Kayode Akinkade, he described the allegations as mischievous.
Mr Akinkade explained that there are procedures mentioned by the laws of the state to determine the eligibility of candidates to contest in the council elections and it is not at the discretion of the governor.
He said: “The governor is not discriminatory against anyone in the party. He loves all APC members and allows anyone in the party to contest if they are eligible. As you know, there will be primary elections and it is the candidate with the highest number of votes cast by party members that will determine the winner, not the governor.”
“The allegations by those people are misleading and intend to mislead the public; there is absolutely nothing of such from the governor,” he added.
