Oluwaseun Akingboye, Akure.
THE Young Democratic Party (YDP) has condemned the local government election conducted in Ekiti State recently, clamouring for the cancellation of the polls on the basis of exclusion without reason.
The National Secretary of the party, Mr. Bolaji Oni, said this yesterday at a press conference in Akure, lamenting that his party’s name and logo were deliberately excluded from the ballot paper.
“It was with great shock and embarrassment that we found out through thousands of our members and followers on the morning of the election day that our party name and logo was excluded in the ballot paper.”
For the record, the state electoral commission conducted the poll in the16 councils of the state on December 23, 2017 and all the polls were won by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
Oni, who hails from Ido-Osi LGA of the state, stated that YDP had 8 councillorship and one chairmanship candidates but they were disenfranchised by the commission from being voted for.
“YDP showed intent and obtained forms EKSCF 001, 002, 003 and 004 and submitted same to the commission for the just concluded local government elections, in line with the guidelines and timetable published by the commission.
“Our candidates were screened in your office and no form of communication was made to us or our candidates notifying that we would be excluded and the reason(s) for the exclusion.
“It took a lot to calm our members and followers down, who felt they are being deprived of their rights and ready to exercise their grievances there and then if not for God and the Party’s State Executive’s quick intervention,” he said.
The party chieftain revealed that the party had petitioned the Resident Commissioner of Ekiti State Electoral Commission as a pre-action notice, warning that YDP would resort to litigation if the demand was not heeded.
“We hereby write to demand for the reason(s) behind this unscrupulous, unethical and villainous act of the commission. The petition also serves as pre-action notice,” he said.
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Akingboye joseph
