Thousands of aspirants across the 20 Local government areas and the proposed 37 Local Council development areas have started lobbying towards the elections in Ogun State. In the last Local Government election, When the last State has only 20 Local Government areas, more than 1,000 Councillorship aspirants and over 200 Chairmanship aspirants obtained intent and application forms to contest under Action Congress of Nigeria in June 2012. At the end of the primaries, Only 20 Chairmanship Candidates and 236 Councillors were choosen to contest for the Local government areas and Wards respectively.
Presently, Findings revealed that Several political camps have been realigning and negotiating for their followers to emerge as the party Candidates that will be contesting against other political party Candidates. Various Communities leaders and god-fathers have been secretly meeting to strategize on several ways and options. Caucus Meetings have been holding at many hidden places, majorly at notable leaders' houses. As it stands now, the former PDP members who decamped to All Progressives Congress before general election seem to be having upper hand, in the lobbying and the strategies, their camp cut across the 20 Local government areas, their leaders are working day and night, having meeting with their members since there is no Ward meeting anywhere. The other camps are also engaging in underground works but not to the extent of PDP caucus. The former PDP members who found themselves in the appointment domains of Senator Ibikunle Amosun are really taking care of their former PDP members so as to have edge over the others. Sources also confirmed that Some leaders in APC have instructed their trusted followers to signify intentions to contest, while Some National Assembly members had as well encouraged their followers to come and slug it out with whoever that has interest in the race of Chairmanship or Councillorship.
Some of the former transition Chairmen, the Former Chairmen and the aspirants that were not picked at the last APC primaries are also lobbying for the Local government areas and local council development areas positions.
There is still confusion as whether the local government and LCDAs elections would still hold or Transition committees would be appointed by the Governor across 20 LGs and 37 LCDAs areas, to firstly handle the administration of the grassroots governance, When Ogun State house of Assembly finally passed the LCDAs amendment bill into law, as the election would require huge amount for Ogun State Independent electoral commission to conduct the election. The party also needs extensive campaigns in the nooks and crannies of the State. OGSIEC would also need time to create new political wards across the state. The electoral umpire just announced April 21 next week for the conduct of referendum for the new 5 LCDAs.
After the conduct of referendum, the Ogun State House of Assembly will pass the amendment bill into law, thereby giving OGSIEC chance to announce the election days, if the State government is ready to finance it.
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