Politics

Osun LG Poll: Mixed Reactions Trail Declaration of APC as Winner

By Web News 579


All the candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC has been declared as the validly elected Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of 30 local governments and 39 Local Council Development Areas of Osun State.

Similarly, all the candidates of the ruling APC were elected unopposed as councilors into 369 wards of Osun State.

The announcement was made by the Chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, OSSIEC, Otunba Segun Oladuntan why presenting to the public the outcome of the Local Government Election conducted in Osun State on Saturday.

Otunba Oladitan said all the APC councilors were returned unopposed in the Election based on the provision of the law.

“Section 35 of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission Law States that “If after the expiration of time for the delivery of nomination papers and the withdrawal of candidates for election to the office of Councilor only one nominated , that candidate shall be declared and returned unopposed”. He said

The OSSIEC Chairman added that only the APC returned nomination of it’s candidates, hence the ballot paper contained a ‘Yes or No’ remark to determine whether the electorates want them in the leadership of the various councils as provided by the Electoral Law.

He explained that the development was based on the provision of Section 106(1) (a) of the Electoral Act 2022 which states that

“a candidate for an election to the office of the Chairman shall be deemed to have been duly elected to the office where being the only candidate nominated for the election he or she has (a) majority of YES vote over NO votes cast at the poll”.

Otunba Oladitan maintained that the Electoral Commission acted in compliance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic and the Electoral Law.

Shortly after the declaration, Chairmen of Olaoluwa South LCDA, Mr Adediti Adedayo and Obokun Local Government, Mr Mauruf Ogundipe thanked the people for returning them elected through the yes votes in the absence of other Political party’s candidates.

Meanwhile, the Osun State People’s Democratic party has described the exercise as illegal.

The state Public Relation Officer of the PDP, Mr Oladele Bamiji told Radio Nigeria that the exercise was in contravention of the Electoral Law which mandates the Electoral umpire to give a 365 days notice to all the Political parties.

Similarly, a human rights activist, Mr Kanmi Ajibola who is currently before a Federal High Court in Osogbo to Challenge the exercise said it was contempt of court for OSSIEC to have gone ahead with a subject matter which was already before the court.

However, the All Progressive Congress and the State government had commended the Osun State Electoral Commission for conducting a free, fair and credible local government election. 

The APC Public Relations Officer in Osun State, Chief Kola Olabisi and the  Chief Press Secretary to the Governor told Radio Nigeria in a different interviews that the Election would further deepen democracy.

Adenitan Akinola

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Politics

Low Turnout Marks Osun LG Poll

By Web News 730

Voters’ apathy characterized the Saturday’s local council poll conducted by Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, OSSIEC.

There was a poor turnout of voters in some polling Units visited in Egbedore, Osogbo and Bolorunduro areas of Osun while some units in Ward 10 in Egbedore Local Government Area of Osogbo were empty of voters.

Radio Nigeria reporter, who went around some polling Units, found that the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, OSSIEC, officials had left the polling Units as there were no voters to participate in the Local Government election.

Speaking in an interview with journalists in Igbajo, Bolorunduro Local Government Area, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Mr. Sunday Akere commended OSIEC for the peaceful conduct of the election.

At Dada Estate market, in Egbedore local government area, a woman hawking smoked fish, who refused to be recorded by our correspondent said, she came from Iwo town to do her daily business in the market adding that she did not know the election was taking place this Saturday.

Also speaking, one of the residents of Ofatedo, Mr. Dimeji Ojo said, he did not go out to vote since he did not know the Councilor or Chairman contesting in the election.

However, despite the no movement order by the state government, some shops and market stalls were opened for business while some motorcycle operators were going about carrying passengers from one area to another.

Similarly, a Radio Nigeria correspondent, who monitored the exercise in Osogbo, Ikirun Iragbiji and Ilobu noticed that there was voters’ apathy.

Some residents were also seen going about with their businesses despite the restrictions ordered by the state government.

However, our correspondent in Osogbo reports of voting exercise in Unit 2 and unit 3 Ibokun road ward 7 Alagbaa Area, Ward 9 and 12  in Oja Oba Market, Unit 8 Ward 6 Otun Jagunbi, Akolu Compound, Itaolokan. 

Shops, filling stations and markets were observed to be under lock and key in places visited including Station Road, Oja Oba, Italokan, Aiyepe, Ilesa Garage, Owode -Ilesa and Kajola areas of the town. 

There were slight movements of commercial vehicles and motorcyclists on the major roads. 

Osun Independent Electoral Commission, OSEIC officers, and security officials manned the polling units, and various security agencies were observed patrolling around the major roads of the areas visited to maintain peace and order. 

Speaking with Radio Nigeria,  an OSIEC presiding officer, Mr Tunde Abdulazeez said the voting process commenced at 9.00a.m.and most voters left the polling units after casting their vote. 

In an Interview, a politician, Prince AbdulAkeem Olaniyan described the process as smooth, free and fair, commending the State Independent Electoral Commission for the timely distribution of Electoral materials. 

Speaking, The Chairman, Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, Otunba Segun Oladitan said only All progressive Congress participated in the election.

Otunba Oladitan noted that the commission had provided enabling environment for all political parties to participate in the election but some political parties decided not to participate in the exercise

It would be recalled that the last local government election in Osun State was held in January 2018.

Funmi Adekoya/Wasiu Ajadosu