Crisis Mars LG Chairmanship Elections In Osun As Party Members Protest Imposition Of Candidates

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

The local government chairmanship election conducted in Osun State on Tuesday was reportedly marred with crisis in some local government areas.

Protesting members of APC in Iwo on Tuesday

The newly elected councillors were made to conduct election in their various local council areas to determine whom to become chairmen among them. This was as a result of the parliamentary system of government introduced by the state government.

The state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola had last week sworn in the elected councillors in the Local Council Development Authority, LCDAs, and Local Government Areas of the state, all of whom won on the ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and directed them to go to the council to elect their chairmen in accordance with the parliamentary system of government which is operational at the third tier of government in the state.

But report gathered from some of the centers indicates that the elections were marred with imposition of candidates by top government officials .

Specifically in Ife-East, Modakeke, Oriade, Atakumosa West, Ilesa West, Ayedaade and Iwo local government areas among others witnessed series of crisis.

In Iwo local government area for instance, placards were carried by members of the party with various inscriptions such as “no more imposition of candidates”, “no inauguration without election by councillors” and “allow  elected councillors to select their chairman” stormed the local government secretariat as early as 7:00 am to protest the alleged imposition of the chairman.

It took intervention of security agents in the area led by the Council Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Mr Akinlade Adio several hours before the situation was brought under control.

The chairmanship contest was between Hon. Tunde Akinlawon from ward 10 and Hon. Kamarudeen Raji from ward 8 who eventually won the post after the intervention of prominent people who resolved the crisis.