The Chairman of Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), Aare Isiaka Olagunju, SAN has identified trust deficit and lack of confidence in those responsible for the conduct of elections at the local government level by the electorates responsible for low turn-out during the elections.
Barrister Olagunju gave the hint at the Guest Forum Program of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Correspondents’ Chapel, held at its Secretariat, Mokola, Ibadan on Thursday.
He said as the Chairman of the Commission, he is committed to leaving a legacy worthy of emulation by conducting credible local government elections.
The OYSIEC Chairman assured that his team would intensify efforts on sensitization to ensure that there is an improvement in the turn-out of voters in the forthcoming local government elections in the state.
Olagunju maintained that the Commission had no reported case of staff misconduct during the last election, promising that all the political parties will be given a level playing ground.
While commending the NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel for the initiative, Olagunju tasked the media on voter education to aid massive participation in the next local government elections.
“I am highly elated to be here, sensitization of voters is very key for massive participation in the election, and we will need the media to achieve this.
“I must say that there is no unusual interference from the executives, and we must commend the governor for this.
“Our credibility is intact, we will be extremely prudent, we won’t relent but this Commission becomes a legacy in which other states governments will emulate in conducting local government councils election,” Olagunju said.
The Commission boss said that screening of candidates of the political parties by the OYSIEC is essential to verify if they meet the criteria stipulated by the electoral law.
He hinted that the Commission would liaise with security agencies to beef up the security architecture of the state in order to have a peaceful election.
Olagunju, therefore, enjoined all political parties to cooperate with the Commission in achieving a peaceful, credible and transparent election.
He explained that OYSIEC will rely on the polling units used by INEC as the Commission has no power to create polling units under the law.
“We are going to display the voter register before the election, this will be from the INEC, and thank God INEC just had elections.
“Candidates are to be screened to find out if they are eligible to contest in the election.
Candidates must be an indigene and resident of the state, live in the state for 10 years, must be 21 years, have three years tax clearance and senior secondary school result among others.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Correspondents’ Chapel, Oyo State, Comrade Raji Adebayo, said that the Chapel had hosted some distinguished personalities in the country to its Guest Program Forum.
He explained that in the recent past, there were a series of issues facing the conduct of local government elections, such as credibility, which, according to him, made some political parties back out of participation.
Adebayo commended OYSIEC for having 18 political parties willing to participate in the elections, saying that it is an indication that the political parties have confidence in the current leadership of the Commission.
