Ilese-Ijebu Ogun State — Hon. Lukman Adeleye, Minority Leader of the Ogun State House of Assembly, has levelled serious allegations regarding the November 16, 2024, local government elections in Ogun State. During a live interview on Eagle 102.5 FM’s current affairs program “Frontline”, Adeleye accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of voter intimidation and widespread electoral malpractice across polling units.

Adeleye stated that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aimed to use the election to expose the declining influence of APC in the state. He highlighted that the PDP remains the leading political force in Ogun East and Ogun Central senatorial districts, attributing the reported irregularities to the ruling party’s attempts to cling to power.

“Our goal was simple—to show the rulling party how irrelevant they have become. The people of Ogun State have moved on, with the PDP representing the majority in key regions. Unfortunately, the APC resorted to voter intimidation and outright fraud to claim an undeserved victory,” Adeleye remarked.

He expressed dissatisfaction with the election results, which saw the APC sweeping all local government areas. He described this as part of a broader national trend in which ruling parties manipulate local elections. “This is bigger than Ogun State. Across Nigeria, ruling parties use their influence to suppress opposition voices and undermine democracy,” he added.

Adeleye urged the state’s electoral commission and independent observers to review the election process and called for greater fairness in future polls. He also advocated for judicial reform, stating that electoral petitions should not be limited to state high courts.

“The people deserve justice. Democracy can not thrive where fraud and intimidation are the tools of governance,” Adeleye concluded.