*To Release List Of Final Candidates by January, 2024
Ahead of the April 26th, 2024 local government elections, the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) has given the political parties the go ahead to commence campaigning.
The Commission also said that the final list of candidates contesting for the chairmanship and councillorship positions will be released by 15th January, 2024.
The Chairman of the Commission, Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju, SAN, disclosed this during a meeting with the 19 registered political parties on Tuesday.
The meeting was held at the Conference Room of the Commission, Agodi Gate, Ibadan, the state capital.
The Chairman said that the campaign will end on 26th April, 2024.
Olagunju disclosed that there will be no room for political parties to substitute the names of candidates earlier submitted to the Commission for the polls without the consent of concerned or affected candidates.
OYSIEC boss affirmed that the permanent voter’s card remains the sole means of identification to vote on election day, as agreed earlier during the previous engagement of the Commission with political parties.
Olagunju added that the decision to use only permanent voter’s cards was the fact that almost all eligible voters now have access to the card.
“What we did was to inform all the registered political parties officially of the outcome of the screening exercise that we did and to let us know if there was an error in the list returned to the political parties.”
“We are glad that all the political leaders were satisfied with the outcome of the screening arrangements”
“Candidates should escalate their campaign exercise from today to 26th April, 2024. Our message is constant, candidates and political parties are to eschew violence and avoid molestation of one another,” Olahgunju said.
In his remarks, the Chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC), Oyo State, Apostle Dare Ojo, said that it was essential to intensify efforts on voter education, saying that some people are still doubting the credibility of local government councils election.
Apostle Dare, who doubles as the Chairman of Action Democratic Party in the state, advised the Commission to consider town hall meetings to further educate the public on the need to participate in the next local government council elections in the state.
In his contribution, Secretary, All Progressive Congress, APC, Oyo State, Alhaji Olanite Tajudeen, called for proper orientation of the electoral officers to be engaged by OYSIEC for the election to prevent unforeseen circumstances.
He enjoined candidates of various political parties to be up and doing and ensure their campaigns are within the ambit of the law.
