2021 LG elections: OGSIEC meets political parties, releases elections guidelines
Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta
The Chairman of Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) Barr. Babatunde Osibodu on Tuesday met with the political parties in the state over the forthcoming local government elections in July assuring of a free, fair, transparent and credible poll.
Barr. Babatunde Osibodu disclosed that with the sense of patriotism and commitment of the OGSIEC members saddled with the responsibility of conducting this 2021 local government elections, it would unarguably be a benchmark for other local government elections in Ogun State and Nigeria as a whole.
He stated that Chairmanship and councilorship candidates for the local government elections are to obtain nomination forms for a deposit of N200,000 and N100,000 respectively while the female candidates are to collect the forms for free as a way of encouraging women participation in politics and governance.
Barr. Osibodu also said that all those who want to participate in the local government elections but are currently serving as members of transition committee across the 20 local governments must resign latest 30 days to Saturday, July 24, 2021 when the election holds.
The Chairman also revealed that political parties are to conduct their primaries between Wednesday, May 5 and Thursday 27 while all electioneering campaign ends by midnight of Thursday, July 22, 2021.
Osibodu has however pleaded with all the participating political parties to keep strictly to the electoral laws and work according to the local government elections guidelines for a credible poll.
The Chairman also pleaded with the youth or anybody whatsoever not to be willing tools in the hands of unscrupulous politicians to foment violence or cause any breach of peace during the LG poll, saying that the commission is also working with the security agents to ensure that the local government election is violence free.
Osibodu, while seeking the cooperation of the political parties for the success of the LG poll also urged the media to support the commission in organising a credible poll and should therefore shun the temptation to be used as agent of misinformation.
He urged the media to be partners in progress with the commission and always endeavour to cross-check their facts before disseminating such to the public saying that the commission’s doors are always open to every effort that will aid the success of the LG polls.
Osibodu reiterated the resolve of the Commission to organise a fair, just, transparent and credible poll that would go a long way to capture the wishes of the rural dwellers across the 20 local governments, its 236 wards and 4038 polling booths.
