As the political atmosphere gets more tensed in Ondo state and preparations gets more pronounced in Idanre against the forthcoming coming local council elections across the 18 local government in Ondo State.
It is pertinent to address some salient issues gathering momentum and generating upheaval among the citizenry of Ondo state. The Social Democratic Party put forward the following as their concern and their position on Ondo state Independent Electoral Commission ODIEC planned electoral alignment instead of neutrality.
1. The Social Democratic Party SDP for the record time would like to state emphatically that it is the only party in Nigeria that gives youths ample opportunities to contest under its umbrella. That is to say that the Social Democratic Party has been in the business of breeding leaders to occupy important political positions and spearhead governance. The party equips the youth with skill and sharpen them for the task ahead.
At this juncture, the odiec should understand that the bulk of SDP members across the state are youths and our aim and objective is to bring development to the state through peace and conducive atmosphere. And as law abiding citizens that is willing to play the politics according to the rules. It is therefore right to say that the youth are better equipped leaders who understands politics and knows the rules of engagement. It becomes imperative to inform ODIEC that the SDP building leaders in our society shouldn’t be interpreted and getting mediocrity in politics rather it’s getting active minds, sound and intelligent youths in governance as supported by the “NOT TOO YOUNG TO RUN BILL”
2. That the ODIEC should be an umpire of political neutrality based commission poised to entrench the will of the people rather than enforce some leaders on them or acting on the direct discretion of the incumbent government but their has been fears and over boarding disturbance that the ODIEC has perfected plans to ensure the success of the APC in the forthcoming local government chairmanship and councillorship elections in Ondo State.
The SDP therefore call on international organisations, INEC to come to the aid of the people of Ondo State and forestall plans to rig the forthcoming elections and sabotage the will of the people. Democracy should be distinct from kingship where group of people choose a leader. The beauty of Democracy is when the votes and interest of every individual is being catered for through electoral system. We there for implore ODIEC to desist from plans to wreck havoc on our Democracy.
3. That the chairman of the Ondo State Electoral body has been showing sign of being bought by the incumbent government and therefore showing signs of electoral alignment in other to ensure the overall success of the incumbent government in the forthcoming local government chairmanship and Councillorship elections and their long time goal of the gubernatorial elections.
We have all the plans of the ODIEC towards rigging of the local government election in favour of the APC. We are sending this as warning to ODIEC to conduct a free, fair and credible election where they will allow the electorate to vote the candidate of their choice retaining the integrity and the standard of their Chairman Prof. Yemi Dinakin. If Prof. Yemi Dinakin by any means try to influence or sabotage the will of the people by rigging the election in favour of the APC he would be committing electoral fraud, this will spoil his good name and make ruin of his good legacies.
The prosperity of our community lies in the people’s choice of leaders and not the government choice of leader. We therefore call on the chairman of ODIEC to put to order and let every plans to rig and commit electoral fraud commit suicide before the day of election in order not to put Ondo state at the risk of riot and anarchy. THE PEOPLE ARE WATCHING.
Lastly, after carefully considering all these glaring shortcomings and orchestrated plans to sabotage the will of the people, the Social Democratic Party thereby align itself with other political parties to pass VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE on ODIEC.