PDP queries Kwara LG election results amid violence, allegations of fraud

Protests erupted in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Sunday as members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expressed outrage over the results of the recent local government elections, which they claim were fraudulent.

The demonstration turned violent when Ibrahim Suberu, a civil servant, was reportedly assaulted by an irate crowd near the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC) office.

Witnesses reported that Suberu was pulled from his motorcycle and beaten severely by protesters. 

He managed to escape to the KWASIEC office, where security personnel intervened to protect him. “I was mercilessly beaten. They wanted to burn me, but I managed to run and escaped,” Suberu recounted.

The protests began early Sunday morning after KWASIEC announced that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had won all chairmanship and councillorship positions across the state. 

PDP officials quickly condemned the results, claiming that the elections were marred by irregularities, particularly in Offa, where they asserted no voting took place.

Salahudeen Lukman, the PDP chairmanship candidate for Offa, stated, “It is inconceivable that KWASIEC would declare a winner in an election that was marred by irregularities… Should there be any breakdown of law and order in Offa as a result of this injustice, Governor AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq must be held accountable.”

Protesters set bonfires at various locations in the city, wielding placards with messages such as “Kwara people say no to bad governance” and “KWASIEC robbed PDP in Kwara LG elections.”

Former state commissioner Saratu Adebayo accused KWASIEC of colluding with the APC to manipulate election outcomes, asserting, “PDP won the chairmanship election in the 16 local government areas, but was falsely awarded to APC.”

In response, Femi Agbaje-Whyte, Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, defended the election results, insisting that voting did indeed take place in Offa. 

He claimed, “Traditionally, Offa is an APC town. Therefore, the people will not be so docile and will vote for another party.”

As tensions continue to rise, the PDP has called for the immediate rescheduling of the Offa local government election to ensure credibility and restore public trust in the electoral process.