Ahead of the local government elections in Kogi State, stakeholders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have appealed to Governor Usman Ododo and the leadership of the party not to allow some self-centered individuals to hijack the process as such actions may spell doom for the party in the nearest elections.
This they disclosed yesterday at a press conference held in Lokoja.
Alhaji Muhammad Dansabe, who addressed the press on behalf of other stakeholders, urged Governor Ododo ensure the outgoing caretaker chairmen across the 21 local government areas do not have undue advantage.
He said many of the caretaker chairmen have been tested and failed hence their call for a credible process that will throw up the best candidate for the party in the elections.
“The outgoing Caretaker Chairmen behaved like they would never leave the office as many of them disconnected themselves from the party to the point that for six months, they never bothered to hold meetings with the stakeholders, party executives at both ward and local government levels.
“Can you imagine where you will see a Caretaker Chairman, not elected come out in the streets insulting people who are older than them, having no respect for anyone, using security agencies to harass and intimidate the people? Elections are here, they are jumping from one place to another,” he said.
They used the opportunity to appreciate the administration of President Tinubu who deemed it fit to revive democracy at the grassroots which forms the basis for the democratic process itself where the people will determine who manages their resources, stressing that the local government’s financial autonomy which has eluded the people for over two decades will go a long way to have positive impacts on the people.
They called on the party leadership in the state not to allow the coming election to be business as usual hence they should throw up a credible process that will strengthen the party going forward, pointing out that any attempt to impose candidates on the people either as Chairman or Councillors will be resisted.
“Allow people to go and test their popularity, if you are popular, you should have nothing to fear, the Governor should not listen to those who are out to use his name to curry support from the people. The party should not forget that very soon the election will be conducted by INEC hence the need to allow the process to run through fairly”
