The All Progressives Congress (APC) has unsurprisingly dominated the Ondo State local government elections, securing victory in 16 out of the 18 chairmanship seats. Joseph Aeemo, the chairman of the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC), announced the results at the commission’s headquarters in Akure. While the rescheduled election in Ondo West Local Government Area is still ongoing and results from Owo LGA are awaited, the APC’s dominance is clear, a familiar trend in Nigeria’s local government elections, where the ruling party often secures the most favourable outcomes.
Opposition Boycotts
Twelve political parties contested the elections, including the Labour Party, Social Democratic Party, Zenith Labour Party, and others. However, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chose to withdraw, citing a lack of trust in ODIEC’s ability to conduct a fair and credible election. The PDP voiced its concerns, stating, “We do not believe in the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct a credible election.” This statement explains a growing frustration with the credibility of state electoral commissions, which are frequently accused of serving the interests of the ruling party, especially in a state where the APC has maintained its grip on power.
Manipulated or Managed?
Saturday’s election marked the first local government election since August 23, 2020. After the tenure of the previous council officials expired in August 2023, civil servants, specifically the Heads of Local Government Administration, have been managing the 18 local councils. After multiple delays, ODIEC finally scheduled the election for January 18, 2025. However, the election results, where the APC once again emerged victorious feel very familiar.
Nigerians argue that these elections are nothing more than formalities designed to perpetuate the ruling party’s control.
The APC’s landslide victory in Ondo mirrors a nationwide trend in Nigeria, where ruling parties sweep local elections, leaving little room for opposition parties to make meaningful gains.
The Bigger Picture: Are These Elections About Governance or Just Politics?
Local government elections are supposed to be a tool to strengthen democracy and empower grassroots leadership. However, in Ondo State and many other parts of Nigeria, they have become little more than symbolic exercises that reinforce the dominance of the ruling party.
Nigerians continue to demand electoral reforms, hoping for a system that truly reflects the people’s will. But with the same old patterns of manipulation, boycotts, and predictable victories, it seems unlikely that this cycle will end anytime soon. The dominance of the APC in Ondo’s local government elections is just another page in a much larger story of political manipulation in Nigeria’s electoral system.
