Offa LG poll: “new” PDP, old method?

The singular fact that Hon. Jimoh Olawole, one of the ostensibly elected councillors on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Shawo South-west ward denounced his purported election as the councillor of the ward has created a deep crisis of confidence for the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC). This is an acid […]

The singular fact that Hon. Jimoh Olawole, one of the ostensibly elected councillors on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Shawo South-west ward denounced his purported election as the councillor of the ward has created a deep crisis of confidence for the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC). This is an acid test which the state State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC) cannot afford to fail. Given the crisis that has engulfed the ruling party (which is also ruling Kwara state), the resolution of Offa LGA election mess puts to test the sincerity of purpose of the “New” PDP Chieftains in making a new departure from the electoral impunity they decry in Abuja but they prefer in their respective domains including Kwara state.
The “new” National Chairman Abubakar Baraje, who spoke on behalf of notables that include governors Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Musa Kwankwaso of Kano, Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto, Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, Abdulfatah Ahmed  of Kwara, and Babangida Aliyu of Niger while parting ways with the mainstream PDP made the case for internal democracy.
Witness him;
“Not only has the Constitution of the party been serially violated by Alhaji Tukur and fellow travellers, but all the organs of the party have been rendered virtually ineffectual by a few people who act as though they  are above the law. “Unfortunately, it is obvious that that they get encouragement from the Presidency whose calculations are geared towards shutting out any real or imagined opposition ahead of the party’s presidential primaries for the 2015 elections.
“As leaders of our great party, we consider it a sacred responsibility to save the PDP from the antics of a few desperadoes, who have no democratic temperament and are therefore bent on hijacking the party for selfish ends. While the list of their violations of the tenets of our great party is long, we will highlight just a few:
*Notwithstanding the fact that INEC had noted that the PDP congresses in  nine states were not properly conducted, the illegal delegates from such states are being paraded at the so-called convention being held today in a cynical attempt to circumvent the law and further bring the name of the party to disrepute
*In gross violation of the PDP constitution, which stipulates that the NEC meeting must hold at least once in a quarter, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and a few people have been running the party like a personal fiefdom without recourse to that important decision-making organ of the party.
From now, the new leadership of the party under us will strive to build a fairer as well as a more transparent and accountable PDP that will put the  interest of members and indeed all the people of Nigeria above that of one single individual.
“For all the members of our great party who may have become disillusioned by the anti-democratic tendencies of the Bamanga Tukur leadership, there is a new lease of life in the horizon. It is a new dawn for the Peoples Democratic Party.”
Any observer from outer space, on reading Baraje’s statement would assume that with the new PDP dissenters, we are to witness new democratic practices that would deepen the democratic process. Interestingly PDP’s controversial congress held simultaneously the controversial. With the benefit of hindsight today, it is clear that what Abubakar Baraje did not say also included the injustices PDP under their heels in Kwara state has done and is doing to the opposition. Offa Local Government Area election and its controversial outcome in which an ascribed councillor winner denied his alleged victory belie “new” PDP’s democratic credentials.
Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC) must urgently and without delay respect the democratic preferences of the good people Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State as expressed by their votes. It must abide by its own rules and declare the authentic winners of Offa Local Government rerun election.

The Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdufatah Ahmed carries the burden of ensuring that the votes count in Offa LG within the context of local government autonomy. It would amount to some double standard for the Governor to rightly champion the cause of justice and fairness within the PDP in Abuja when injustice is being perpetrated or perceived to be encouraged by the same Governor in Offa Local Government. Equity and electoral justice are not divisible. What is good for the aggrieved members of the “new” PDP is even more desirable for the aggrieved for the people of Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State. Those who seek equity from others must come out with clean equitable hands for others too.  
Democracy is a means as well as an end. For democracy to be jealously protected Nigerians cannot watch while electoral injustice is being encouraged whether at the Governors Forum, party Congresses or at the local government levels. He that rigs election will “rig” and undermine good governance. The basic principle of democracy is one person, one vote that must count. Also at the root of the clamour for local government autonomy is free and fair election where votes must count.