The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced that it will not participate in the local government election scheduled for December 2026.
The party made its position known in a statement issued on Thursday by its Publicity Secretary, Wasiu Olawale Sadare.
According to the APC, the planned election is illegal, ill-conceived and designed to serve personal political interests rather than the interests of the people.
The party argued that conducting the election at this time would worsen the situation at the grassroots level and questioned the commitment of Governor Seyi Makinde to local government autonomy.
Sadare alleged that the governor had failed to support genuine independence for local councils and accused him of controlling the resources of the state’s 33 local government areas for several years.
He claimed that residents were eager to see a return to what he described as true freedom and autonomy at the local government level.
“The whole world knows that Gov. Makinde does not believe in local government autonomy, and when it comes to democracy at the grassroots, he cannot be trusted for anything. He has feasted on the resources of the 33 local government councils in the state for over seven years and the people cannot wait for him to leave in May for the third tier of government to regain their freedom,” Sadare said.
The APC spokesperson further alleged that the governor was attempting to install loyal political allies in local government offices before leaving office.
“The same Makinde is now trying to impose another set of lackeys who would be loyal to him even after leaving Agodi Government House and he knows he cannot do this after the conduct of the 2027 general elections, which outcome would strip him of all political power and influence,” he added.
The local government election is expected to hold across the state’s 33 local government areas in December 2026. However, the APC’s decision not to participate sets the stage for a fresh political dispute over the conduct of the poll.
