We have no power to manipulate LG election — OYSIEC

Moyosore Salami

The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) has said that the Commission does not have the power to influence or manipulate the outcome of the Local Government elections in the State.

Chairman of the Commission, Aare Isiaka Olagunju disclosed this yesterday while appearing before the Oyo State House of Assembly committee on Local Government, Chieftaincy Matters.

The meeting with the committee was held at the House of Assembly complex in Ibadan and was attended by the Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Akintunde Olajide, Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin and Hon. Saminu Gbadamosi.

It was recalled that OYSIEC recently said it will conduct the Local Government election in the State in 2024.

Olagunju, while appearing before the committee, insisted that the commission would give all the political parties a level playing ground prior to, during and after the election.

He said, “I don’t have the power to influence or interfere in the election. The last election that we conducted, some political parties won. I cannot interfere in the local government election.

“We appeal to political parties to come out and participate and vote. Everybody will be given an opportunity to participate, we will not interfere.

“All political parties should conduct their primaries and submit names of their candidates in August this year, so that we can have the election on Saturday, 27th April 2024. We want political parties to abide by the rules.”

Olajide, who spoke with journalists after the meeting, explained that the lawmakers invited the commission to brief the house on its recently released guidelines.

“We have the power to investigate, summon and ask questions, that is why we invited them. We invited them to deliberate on the recently released guidelines by the commission.

“The main reason is to meet them and educate the public on the forthcoming election. We want to give them the necessary support.”