Politics

OSSIEC Goes Ahead with Council Poll

By Web News 733

Amidst controversy and abstinence of major opposition Political parties, the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, OSSIEC is going on with the conduct of the Local Government Election slated for Saturday.

Already, the state government has declared Friday, a work-free day to enable people to travel to their various polling locations.

The Government similarly imposed restrictions on vehicular movement between seven o’clock in the morning and three o’clock in the evening across the state tomorrow.

In a statement in Osogbo, the State Commissioner for information, Mrs Funke Egbemode said the development was to ensure a hitch-free election.

Shortly after the conduct of the state Governorship Election on July 16th, the State Independent Electoral Commission, OSSIEC announced a timetable for the conduct of the election.

This announcement was received with stiff opposition from the People’s Democratic Party which contended that it was illegal and a waste of resources for the state government to organise a local government election after the ruling party had lost the governorship election.

The PDP public relations Officer, Mr Oladele Bamiji who told Radio Nigeria in an interview that the party would boycott the process, said OSSIEC’s insistence on conducting the election was an attempt by the ruling APC to perpetuate itself in office after it had lost the governorship election.

However, the ruling APC maintained that it would field candidates for the election, saying that the state electoral commission was on a clear page of Law to conduct the local council poll.

Speaking on Tuesday at the party’s Secretariat in Osogbo during a ceremony to flag-off campaign ahead of the election, the Chairman of the APC in Osun State, Prince Gboyega Famoodun said the Osun State Electoral Commission had obeyed all the laws guiding the conduct of such election.

Immediately after OSSIEC’s announcement of the election timetable in July, a Human Rights activist, Mr Kanmi Ajibola approached a Federal High Court, asking the court to declare the proposed election as illegal, null and void.

Mr Ajibola’s contention was the fact that the state government and its Electoral body offended the provision of the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended, which provides that a 365-day notice must be given to all parties before any election could hold.

In an interview with Radio Nigeria, the legal practitioner submitted that since the matter was already in court, it was an offence for the state Electoral body to insist on the conduct of tomorrow’s local government election in Osun State.

However, the Chairman of OSSIEC Prince Segun Oladitan said the exercise would go on as there is no judgment stopping the conduct of the election.

Promising to conduct a free and fair election, Prince Oladitan said of all political parties that collected the forms, only one has returned forms for the election.

Adenitan Akinola

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Politics

LG Polls: Ogun Govt. Announces Restriction of Movement

By Web News 616

Ogun State Government has announced a statewide restriction of movement for the conduct of local government elections tomorrow, 24th July 2021.

A statement by the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Odusile indicates that nine hours restriction will take place between the hours of 7am and 4pm.

The statement explains that the restriction is to ensure that Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission conduct peaceful councillorship and chairmanship elections in all the 236 wards and 20 local government areas of the state. 

It says that voters are free to move to their polling centres within their neighborhood and cast their votes for the candidates of their choice during the period of the restriction.

The statement urges the electorate to be peaceful and avoid any act that could tarnish the reputation of Ogun State as one of the most peaceful states in the country.

Bolanle Adesida

Security

Police, Other Security Agencies On Standby For Saturday Election In Ogun

By Web News 1309

The Ogun state Police Command is to collaborate with other security agencies to ensure safety of lives and property during the coming Saturday Local Government Election.

A statement by the Spokesman of the Command, Mr. Abímbólá Oyeyemi in Abeokuta stated that the police has put in place elaborate security arrangements to ensure free, fair and credible election.

Mr Oyeyemi said the command has met with the contesting political parties and their candidates warning to them to eschew violence before, during and after the election.

He also said the Command has directed all the Area commanders and Divisional Police Officers to be on the alert to nip in the bud any violent act that may want to occur within their area.

Mr. Oyeyemi said the command’s tactical teams including SWAT, Anti-kidnapping, Anti-cultism and the mobile police force have been deployed to every nook and cranny of the state to ensure hitch free local government election.

The spokesman said the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Edward Ajogun appealed to party leaders to advise their supporters to conduct themselves in peaceful manner as anybody caught trying to disrupt the smooth conduct of the election will be made to face the full weight of the law. 

Wale Oluokun

Politics

OSHA Confirms Oyetola’s Nominees for Council Appointments

By Web News 584

The Osun State House of Assembly has confirmed nominees of Governor Gboyega Oyetola for appointment as Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Members of the Caretaker Management Committee of 30 Local Government Areas, 32 Local Council Development Areas and 7Area Councils.

The House earlier screened the Secretary nominee for Obokun East Local Council Development Area

The Speaker, Mr. Timothy Owoeye in his remark, advised the Caretaker Management to work together to develop the state.

However, the Minority Leader, Mr. Kofoworola Babajide from People’s Democratic Party, said his party was not in support of Caretaker Management in the Local Government and LCDAs, noting that the people of Osun State have been denied the right to vote for the candidates of their choice.

Responding, the Speaker Mr. Timothy Owoeye who explained that nobody denied the electorates to vote for their choice candidates, said they were circumstances that surround not conducting Local Government elections in the State.

The Speaker has therefore advised the Governor to go ahead with the swearing-in of the confirmed nominees.

Funmi Adekoya

Politics

OGSIEC Releases Timetable for Local Government Election

By Web News 773

The Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission, OGSIEC, says elections into the offices of chairmen and councilors of twenty local government areas of the state will take place on the 24th July, 2021 between eight am and two pm. 

A statement by the OGSIEC chairman, Mr. Babatunde Osibodu indicates that prospective candidates are expected to obtain nomination forms from the electoral officers at all local government areas not later than 23rd June, 2021. 

The statement shows that political activities including campaigns and party primaries will commence on 4th May while screening of candidates comes up between 25th and 29th, May, 2021.

It notes that publication of names of qualified candidates will take place on the 12th July, while electioneering campaigns come to an end on the midnight of 23rd, July, 2021.

The statement adds that in case of run-off or re-run, elections will come up on the 31st, July, 2021.

Adebola Ajayi

 

Politics

OYSIEC Releases Local Government Election Timetable

By Web News 833

The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, OYSIEC, on Monday, said elections into the 33 Local Government Councils of Oyo State will hold on Saturday, 15th May, 2021.

The Chairman, State Independent Electoral Commission, Aare Isiaka Olagunju, SAN, disclosed this during a press conference held at the OYSIEC headquarters, Agodi GRA, Ibadan.

According to the OYSIEC boss, the nomination form for the position of chairman will cost two hundred and fifty thousand naira, while hundred thousand naira will be paid to the obtain councilor nomination form.

He, however, enjoined stakeholders concerned to give their support and cooperation to the commission in a bid to organize and conduct free, fair, and credible local government council’s election in Oyo state.

When quizzed about the ongoing court case which may serve as a bottleneck to the upcoming local government council elections, the OYSIEC Chairman explained that there is no cause for alarm, noting that the Supreme Court would have given its judgment before the election holds.

According to the election timetable released by the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, campaigns by political parties will commence on Wednesday, 17th February 2021, and end on Friday, 14th May 2021.

Adedayo Adelowo

Politics

OYSIEC Pledges Level Playing Field Ahead of LG Polls

By Web News 633

The Chairman, Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), Aare Isiaka Olagunju, has pledged to accord a level play field to political parties in the state ahead of local government elections.

Aare Olagunju, who emphasized the need for total involvement of members of the political parties and other stakeholders’ in the election process, promised not to promote illegalities but ensure that the votes of the people count.

He stated this during the trust and confidence building tour of members of the commission to the leadership of some political parties in Ibadan.

Olagunju said it was high time stakeholders worked together and give the people of the state voting options for them  to enjoy dividends of democracy particularly at the grassroots.

Olagunju maintained that failure of political parties to participate in local government council elections remained one of the factors that paved ways for perpetrators of election misconducts in the past ,hence ,political parties needed to have trust in present OYSIEC team and participate actively  in the forthcoming local government council elections .

He appealed to the parties to begin to mobilize their members ahead of the polls and also reach out to the populace on the need to put an end to vote buying.

“We are aware of the vigorous task before us, our integrity is at stake and by God’s grace we would not do anything that will diminish our integrity”.

“Let me say that you are critical stakeholder and there will be a continuous relationship with all stakeholders” 

“Be assured that your votes will count, we won’t place one political party above others, what is important as party , is to play by the rules, play your part by participating actively in all the election processes “. He said.

Adedayo Adelowo