OSSIEC Updates Election Notice, Adjusts Timetable
The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, OSSIEC has amended the notice of local government elections and has also adjusted the timetable and schedule of activities regarding the forthcoming local government elections in the State.
The Chairman of the Commission, Barr. Hashim Akintude Abioye made this known after the deliberations of the Commission, where the legitimacy of conducting elections into the LCDAs and Administrative Offices was discussed, as such safely resolved to amend the initial notice of elections to the effect that elections shall now be held into only the constitutionally recognized Local Government Council Areas of Osun State, with a caution that 22nd February, 2025 date remains sacrosanct notwithstanding the amendment to the original notice. In his words, “the present amendment dates back to and relates to the original notice, there is no change in the February, 2025 date earlier given for holding the elections”, the Chairman declared.
According to the statement by the press officer of the commission, Omoyemi Badru, the timetable is as follows :
- Primary elections by political parties expected to be monitored by the Commission will commence on the 22nd July – 6th August 2024.
- Registrations of political party is to indicate the dates, venues and time scheduled for their primaries to the Commission not later than 21 days before the appointed dates.
- Final date for submission of list of candidates by parties is slated between 30th September, 2024 – 5th October, 2024, while the final date for the publication of names of already screened and qualified candidates is slated between 11th – 15th November 2024.
He further noted that the electoral Commission has also considered the agitations from some stakeholders especially the Osun State Inter-party Advisory Council, IPAC, and as such resolved to adjust the timetable and schedule of activities for the election to give more time for political parties to conduct their primaries so as to guarantee more inclusive participations in the polls, adding that he has written to the leadership of IPAC to this effect.
He therefore debunked the news making the rounds that Osun is one of the States reported to have been rushing to conduct local government elections due to the local Government autonomy judgement declared by the Supreme Court as against the notice already published by the OSSIEC since 19th February, 2024, describing the news as reckless and baseless as far as Osun State Local Government electoral process is concerned under the present OSSIEC.
