The Chairman, Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), Isiaka Olagunju, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has reiterated that the mandate of the commission as a state electoral umpire is to conduct local government council election within the ambit of the law.
He said this against the backdrop of the state’s upcoming local government election scheduled for 2024.
Olagunju, while featuring on a live radio programme, in Ibadan, the state capital, said all the decisions taken by the commission were in accordance with the electoral law and expressed the readiness of the commission to conduct a free, fair, transparent, and credibile election come 2024.
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He emphasized the need for political parties to abide by the rules guiding the local government election to ensure a successful poll, disclosing that as part of preparations towards the forthcoming election, data forms had been made available to candidates of all registered political parties to fill and submit by the end of the month.
The OYSIEC chairman assured that the commission would build on the relationship established with stakeholders during the last local government election in the state with a view to achieving a free, fair, transparent, and credible election.
“By the provision of the law, we have to issue a notice of election and timetable 360 days before election day, and we have done this.
“By our record, we have 18 registered political parties in the state; all of them have been served the election timetable, and by God’s grace, by 27th April, 2024, there will be an election in the state.
“Lack of trust and confidence is responsible for apathy during local government council election. Our people should show concern and participate in the forthcoming election,” he appealed.
Olagunju, therefore, sought the cooperation and understanding of residents of the state, assuring them that their votes would count on the election day.
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