Politics

Accord LG Poll Attention, OYSIEC Boss Charges Residents 

By Web News 529

By Nashirdeen Sheriffdeen

The Chairman, Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju ,SAN, has charged residents of the state to attach importance to Local Government Councils Election and vote en masse on election day as demonstrated in the last General Elections.

Aare Olagunju gave the charge on Sunday during a Yoruba live Radio program in Ibadan, stressing that it was high time for citizens to accord local government election necessary attention to get the desired development at the grassroots.

He hinted that adequate preparations have been made by the Commission to ensure the election is transparent and credible.

Olagunju, who revealed that the percentage of women vying for positions in the forthcoming local government councils election in the state is minimal, called on the leadership of political parties to come up  with policies that will enable more women to participate in politics and also contest for elective offices without hindrances.

He advised the women not to entertain fear but develop interest in politics and showcase their potentials to benefit their  communities.

Olagunju also admonished the nineteen (19) registered political parties participating in the polls and their candidates to intensify efforts on campaigns to aids massive turn out on April 27, 2024.

On the recruitment of the ad-hoc staff for the polls, Olagunju, said the Commission would soon complete the selection process and communicate successful applicants in due course.

While highlighting efforts made so far to have a free, fair, transparent and credible election, the Commission boss appealed to all and sundry to distance themselves from thuggery and other unlawful activities before, during and after the election.

He said :” 19 registered political parties are participating in the election scheduled for 27th April , 2024  and voter’s registers have been pasted for eligible voters to check their names.

“ By God’s grace, there won’t be any problem, election will be transparent, what remains now is residents participation, they should attach importance to local government council elections, prioritize it and vote for their preferred candidates like they did in the last presidential and governorship elections”

“ We will engage about 15,000 ad-hoc staff, about 40,000 people applied, and you know to pick the needed figures from the overall applications, it will not be easy, very soon, we will release the list of successful applicants” 

“ Women contesting in the election are not many, political parties should have a quota to be given to women to participate, probably 10 to 20% for them to contribute their quota to the development of the state.

Politics

Everyone would be able to cast their votes freely – OSSIEC Chairman

By Web News 455

The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, OSSIEC, wants electoral officers to be transparent in their dealings.

OSSIEC Chairman, Mr Segun Oladuntan gave the advice during the opening ceremony of the training workshop for electoral and assistant electoral officers in preparation for the local government election in the State.

Mr Oladuntan said the Commission was ready to provide all the needed logistics, materials and equipment to facilitate the conduct of a free, fair and credible election.

While reiterating that the 2022 Local Government Election in Osun State would be based on the Presidential System of Government as against the parliamentary system held in the last election, Mr Oladuntan maintained that all registered voters in the state would freely cast their votes for candidates of their choice come 15th October 2022.

Folake Oye

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Lifestyle

Intercity Travelers Unaware Of Elections, Stranded In Abeokuta

By Web News 570

Many travelers were prevented from gaining access into Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital while the local government elections held in the state lasted. 

The commuters who were stopped by security operatives at the outskirts of the city told Radio Nigeria that they embarked on the journey because they were unaware of the election and subsequent restriction of movement. 

Staff reporter, Oluwatoyin Adegoke has the rest of the story.

Oluwatoyin Adegoke

Politics

All Is Set For LG Elections In Ogun

By Web News 613

Preparations for the local government election in Ogun State have reached the climax among stakeholders as political parties display different attitude to the process. 

Radio Nigeria reports that, the conduct of the polls has continued to generate reactions among stakeholders. 

Residents of the state are making efforts to enable them to cope with the restriction of movements ordered by the government during the elections between 7am and 4pm as many voters have to travel to different parts of the state to be able to take part in the exercise. 

Security agencies and traffic management Corps have also assured the people of adequate measures to protect their lives and property, before during and after the polls. 

Meanwhile, some leaders of political parties who spoke with Radio Nigeria on preparations for the local government elections have emphasized the need for the electoral umpire to refrain from acts capable of putting the elections in jeopardy. 

They alleged that the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission, OGSIEC, had been interfering in party politics and not living up to expectations as an independent agency but acting as an appendage of the state ruling party. 

On the report that The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the State has withdrawn from participating in the polls, state chairman of one of the factions, Alhaji Sikirullai Ogundele, maintained that it was to protest the undue interference of the Commission in the internal politics of the party, alleging that OGSIEC was assisting the opposition to destabilise the PDP in Ogun state.

In a reaction to the planned boycott however, another factional Chairman of PDP in the state, Mr Leke Shittu said the report was untrue as the members had fulfilled all the requirements for the elections and would participate actively in the entire process. 

In a statement in Abeokuta, Mr Shittu who described his faction as the authentic leadership of the PDP in the state emphasized that the party was not pulling out of the election. 

Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Mr. Olaposi Oginni who also confirmed the party’s readiness to take part in the election the concern over the report of violence campaign at rallies organized by the ruling party, which according to him was capable of fueling voter apathy 

On his part, the Ogun state chairman of the Labour Party, Comrade Abayomi Arabambi while speaking on the exercise said his political party had no grievances over the local government election and the state Electoral body.

He said labour party was prepared to participate in Saturday’s council elections. 

Some eligible voters while reacting to the controversies trailing the conduct of the local government election, blamed the situation on the lack of internal democracy and emergence of factions in the major political parties, including the ruling APC. 

They urged the OGSIEC to refrain from acts capable of putting the polls in jeopardy. 

Radio Nigeria’s attempt to get the reaction of the electoral body was however stalled as the Chairman, OGSIEC, Mr Babatunde Osibodu was unavailable for comments and all efforts made to reach him were unsuccessful.

Wale Oluokun