We Will Not Participate in Oyo LG Election — APC Declares

The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has announced that it will not participate in the forthcoming local government election scheduled for December 2026.

The party made its position known in a statement issued on Thursday in Ibadan and signed by its Publicity Secretary, Wasiu Olawale Sadare.

According to the APC, the planned local government poll is illegal, ill-conceived and designed to serve political interests rather than strengthen democratic governance at the grassroots level.

The party accused Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, of failing to uphold the principles of local government autonomy and alleged that the administration had continued to exercise excessive control over local councils in the state.

Sadare argued that the governor’s actions had weakened grassroots governance and prevented local government councils from operating independently.

“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,” the APC spokesperson said.

He further alleged that the state government had continued to control resources meant for the 33 local government councils and claimed that residents were eager to see greater independence restored to the third tier of government.

The APC maintained that participating in the election would amount to endorsing a process it considers fundamentally flawed.

According to the party, the proposed election could further deepen concerns about governance at the local level and undermine confidence in democratic institutions.

Sadare also alleged that the governor was attempting to install loyal political allies in local government offices ahead of the end of his tenure.

“The same Makinde is now trying to impose another set of lackeys who would be loyal to him even after leaving Agodi Government House,” he stated.

The opposition party further claimed that the timing of the election was politically motivated and suggested that the governor would be unable to exercise similar influence after the 2027 general elections.

Despite its decision to boycott the poll, the APC said it remains committed to democratic principles and the promotion of genuine local government autonomy in Oyo State.

As of the time of filing this report, the Oyo State Government had not officially responded to the APC’s allegations regarding the planned local government election.