…says Makinde may be planning Executive Coup against Supreme Court Judgment
Akinlabi Afolabi, Ibadan
As Oyo State Government prepares for Local Government Election, the embattled Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Oyo State chapter, has warned political parties and candidates not to invest in Oyo States Independent Electoral Commission OYSIEC electoral market process, called the commission to stop the process.
Chairman, Prince Ayodeji Abass Aleshinloye made this call in Ibadan saying the process will lead nowhere if ALGON wins at Supreme Court on May 7, 2021.
Aleshinloye explained that the (almost) two years old case is to have final closure on May 7, 2021, when the supreme court will rule and give final judgement.
“The Supreme Court of Nigeria has fixed May 7, 2021 for judgement on the protracted case ot illegal dissolution of elected local government administration in Oyo State by Govemor Seyi Makinde. The case was instituted by elected local government chairmen and councilors under the umbrella of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, Oyo State against Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde and the State Government.”
He added that all the political parties are expected to await the judgment for final closure and pay no attention to OYSIEC electoral process.
“The supreme court is the apex court, it’s surprising to see that Oyo State Electoral Commission, a party to the suit, and well represented at Supreme Court, prompted by Gov. Seyi Makinde, went ahead to publish a timetable for local government elections which it intends to conduct on May 15, 2021, eight days after the expected Supreme Court judgment on May 7.
“The question that readily comes to mind with this kind of attitude by these people is that, which kind of vacuous, wasteful minds with local disregard for decency and rule of law are presiding over the affair of our dear state.”
Aleshinloye pointed that the scenario painted the picture of lawless mindset of political gangster who have no respect for democracy, democratic process, ethics and peace but only addicted to power without responsibility.”
The Association also accused the present Oyo state government of trying to perfect a way to buy off judgment as being boasted by political acolytes.
“Gov. Makinde may have perfected way to buy off the judgment as being boasted by his political acolytes and street boys. But this may be very difficult for him to achieve because of the integrity of the bench and their precedent judgments on similar cases like ours.
“It may be an organised OYSIEC ‘come and contest’ election scam, an election advance fee fraud where many unsuspecting candidates will be encouraged to invest in election that may never hold. But like in yahoo yahoo deal fleeced of their hard earned money.
“The Governor may be planning an executive coup against the Supreme Court judgment, if it does not favour him and his government. He will encourage his handpicked elected chairmen on the basis of lapsed tenure in case Supreme Court does not make a declaratory judgment on continuation of tenure.”