Oyo APC Rejects December LG Poll, Declares Boycott
…As Party describes planned council election as illegal and political motivated
The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Oyo State has declared that it will not participate in the planned local government election scheduled for December 26, 2026, describing the exercise as illegal, ill-conceived and designed to serve the political interests of the state government.
The party’s position follows the decision of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, OYSIEC, to move the election date from January 2027 to December 2026 after the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, released the timetable for the 2027 general elections. The adjustment has generated reactions from political observers who question the need for a fresh poll months before the expiration of the tenure of the current council chairmen and councillors.
In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the APC alleged that the planned election is aimed at installing loyalists of Governor Seyi Makinde in local government councils ahead of the end of his administration in May 2027. The party accused the governor of undermining local government autonomy and pledged to work with other stakeholders to oppose the conduct of the election.
The opposition party further alleged that local government councils in the state have not enjoyed full control of their resources under the present administration. It cited security and developmental challenges in some rural communities as evidence of what it described as ineffective grassroots governance and called for genuine democratic practices at the local government level.
The APC maintained that it would boycott all activities connected with the proposed election and urged OYSIEC officials to suspend preparations for the poll. The party insisted that the people of Oyo State deserve a transparent and credible electoral process, while warning against what it described as a waste of public funds and a threat to democracy at the grassroots.
