IBADAN, Nigeria — The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has declared it will not participate in the proposed December 2026 local government elections, describing the plan by Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration as “illegal, ill-conceived and self-serving.”
The opposition party also warned that it would mobilise stakeholders to resist the conduct of the poll, which it alleged is aimed at entrenching political control at the grassroots level beyond the governor’s tenure.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the party criticised the decision of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) to reschedule the election from January 2027 to December 26, 2026, following the release of the timetable for the 2027 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Political observers have questioned the urgency of the poll, noting that it is being planned barely six months before the expiration of the tenure of current local government chairmen and councillors across the state’s 33 local government areas and 351 wards.
“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,” the APC said.
The party further alleged that the planned election is a strategy to “impose another set of lackeys who would be loyal to him even after leaving office,” insisting that it would not only boycott the process but also work with “other patriots and rational minds” to stop what it described as a waste of public funds.
APC accused the state government of undermining local government autonomy through the joint account system, claiming that resources meant for grassroots development have not translated into tangible benefits for communities.
“It is sad that Gov. Makinde wishes for the continuation of the system… where a local government council like Oriire receives over ₦550 million monthly and there is nothing to show for it,” the statement added.
The party also referenced previous local government elections conducted in 2020 and 2024, describing them as a “fraud” and warning that the December poll would be another “charade” where “results would be announced without any election.”
APC called on officials of OYSIEC to halt preparations for the poll, warning of consequences if they proceed with what it termed an unconstitutional exercise.
The Oyo State Government and OYSIEC have yet to officially respond to the allegations.
The development sets the stage for heightened political tension in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly around issues of local government autonomy, electoral credibility, and governance at the grassroots level.
