LG polls: Defy APC tactics, elect credible candidates, Ogun LP tells electorate

In the run-up to the local government elections in Ogun State, Labor Party candidates vying for chairmanship and councilor positions have suffered a series of brutal attacks from people suspected of being politically hired by the ruling political thugs of the state. All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking against the backdrop of a series of attacks on the opposition party at various locations in the state capital, the party’s Undersecretary for Publicity, Tokunbo Peters, revealed that the first of such attacks took place on Tuesday, November 12 at Ewekoro Local Government . Area, where suspected APC thugs, brandishing batons and other dangerous weapons, brutally attacked the Labor Chairmanship Candidate of Ewekoro Local Government Area, Honorable Alani Elijah Juwon, and his wife in front of his wife’s shop in Ewekoro . They were saved from the attackers through the timely intervention of neighbors and passers-by, and he later filed a formal complaint about the incident at Itori Police Station.

However, another incident occurred when the Chairman of the Labor Party for Abeokuta South Local Government Area, Honorable Kenny Owolabi, was also attacked around First Bank, Sapon area of Abeokuta and shot in the leg.

He continues to be treated at an undisclosed hospital.

It was gathered that Owolabi had previously been threatened to withdraw from the electoral contest.

Peters added that in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, suspected APC attackers invaded the residence of the Labor Party presidential candidate, Honorable Olufemi Thomas, in the early hours of Thursday, November 14.

He added: “They tried to break into his apartment because they thought he was home. But the Labor Party candidate, who had received threats since the start of his campaign, had moved himself and his family to an undisclosed location. When the attackers discovered the apartment was empty, they left, warning him to withdraw from the race.”

He noted that candidates for the chairmanship and councilorship of the Labor Party in Ogun East have also faced similar harassment and intimidation, stressing that in Ijebu Ode, Odogbolu and Sagamu local government areas, the banners and posters of candidates for the Labor Party are torn apart by suspected APC thugs. while the candidates are threatened to withdraw from the political struggle. The chairmanship and councilorship candidates in Ijebu Ode and Sagamu local government areas have had to cancel their campaign rallies thrice due to security concerns.

He stressed that the leadership of the Labor Party in Ogun State recalls that the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, had earlier declared that the opposition in Ogun State was not present and boasted that the APC had won all the polls in the state Ogun would sweep.

He said: “The Labor Party, therefore, views this spate of attacks on its candidates as an attempt by the ruling APC government to silence the Labor Party, the main opposition in the state, into submission and possible withdrawal from the elections . But the Labor Party will not be intimidated or deterred by these despicable attacks and anti-democratic tendencies from the ruling party.”

The state publicity secretary of the party disclosed that the Labor party in the state is completely clueless as to why the ruling APC government is afraid of a level playing field.

He said: “Elections are not a matter of do or die. If a party or candidate is unpopular, it will be rejected by the electorate in the elections. The ruling APC government has failed miserably in Ogun State. They have nothing to show for their achievements, hence their resort to intimidation and violence.”

The party leadership in the state called on the police, DSS and all other security agencies in the state to provide tight security at polling stations and assembly centers ahead of Saturday’s elections. They must protect all Labor Party candidates, polling agents, collation agents and the electorate from intimidation and intimidation before, during and after the election.

They further urged the good people of Ogun State to defy the anti-democratic antics of the ruling APC government and come out en masse to cast their votes to bring about the much needed change and save the state from the shackles of the incompetent APC government. .

The Labor Party also informed its numerous supporters and the general public that the party’s election campaign for the local government elections on Saturday today, Thursday, November 14, 2024, would end at twelve midnight.

According to him, the party would not be held responsible for any campaign jingle broadcast on radio or television and for any campaign advertorial published in newspapers, blogs or social media platforms after midnight today, Thursday, November 14, 2024.

He called on the state electoral referee, OGSIEC, and all concerned authorities to be aware of this development.