OSSIEC Chair expresses dissatisfaction over arrest of staff

By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo

The Chairman, Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, Hashim Abioye has expressed the dissatisfaction over arrest of commission officials by the Nigeria Police Force during the ongoing local government election in the state.

The commission chairman, in video clips circulated on social media on Saturday, said that police arrested officials of the commission who are on election duty across the state.

Abioye said that the arrest of the staff of commission delayed election process in some local governments.

He also accused the police of sealing commission’s headquarters thereby jeopardizing the accreditation of newsmen, saying OSSIEC has adequate of media tags and jacket.

According to him, ”Well so far so good, the reports have been positive, the conduct has been very Smooth and peaceful, as against the False Alarm raised by the Police, every where is calm, the only thing is some of the Areas materials where supposed to have arrived for voters to cast their vote, we have report of Police arresting our officials, I don’t know on whose order warranted the arrest of our officials.

“I want to assure our people that for those who are still awaiting the Arrival of our Electoral officials, I want to tell them that it was because the Police arrested some of our officials for committing no crime at all, against no lawful order of any court, but as it is we have deployed materials to those polling units because we have enough on ground, As I am talking to you voting is ongoing in those places.

” Police sealed off our office and that was unwarranted at all, all these we wll sort out at the end of the day, Generally the exercise has been very peaceful, free and fair and we thank God for that.”