Osun LG poll: Election to hold only in recognised Councils

By Folarunsho Alagbede

The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, (OSSIEC) has disclosed that the February 22, 2025 local government election will be conducted in the 30 constitutionally recognised council areas in the state.

This revelation was made by OSSIEC Chairman, Barrister Hashim Abioye while fielding questions at the 44th edition of The Frontliners organised by the League of Veteran Journalists in Osogbo on Wednesday.

Abioye also maintained that the Commission did not disqualify any candidate on account of nomination and did not screen them based on tax remittances.

“OSSIEC will conduct election into the 30 constitutionally recognised local governments in the state.

“We did not disqualify any candidate on account of nomination form and tax remittances. We only disqualified names in the list which OSSIEC noticed did not partake in the party primaries.

“Those in the court today were those who were never nominated or on the political party list,” he said.

While explaining that litigation is part of the electoral process anywhere in the world, Abioye revealed that OSSIEC ha recorded the highest number of litigations under him.

He added that there is no election law that did not have provision for litigation.

“Litigation is part of the electoral process and there is no election anywhere where litigation is not encountered.

“In OSSIEC history, we have the highest number of litigation. It is only those in the media that the public is aware of the radar is clear us legally and constitutionally to conduct the LG election. We have been building on the legitimacy of the constitution.

“We would have encountered problem had it been we got it wrong at the point of notice,” he said.

The OSSIEC boss while highlighting steps the Commission has taken to ensure the conduct of the local government election, said trainings, seminars and retreats have been organised for the staff to ensure credibility of the process.

The chairman of the occasion, Emmanuel Agboola, a retired director of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, stated that election is a process.

He appreciated the Inter Party Advisory Council, Osun chapter, for the job they are doing to support OSSIEC.

“I am more concerned about the process and to ensure it is adjudged credible and the assignment before ossiec is tasking.

“Election is not a perfect job as you re doing your job that some people are there to give you the knocks,” he said.

The acting Chairman, Osun State League of Veteran Journalists, Prince Adeyeye Oyedokun stressing the importance of journalists to the society said the media is so crucial at this stage to democratic governance and to sustenance of democracy and will continue to give account of daily occurrence.

He also lamented that enemies of democracy were already predicting the outcome of the Osun local government election

He urged the public to always respect the practising journalist because they risk everything.