Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) has restated its commitment to the proposed May 22, 2021 local government election in the state.
The Commission, through a statement issued and signed by the Electoral Commissioner in charge of Voter Education, Prince Afeez Adeniyi, reaffirmed that elections will take place in the 33 constitutionally recognized local governments in the state from 8am to 3pm.
He expressed that the Commission is ready to refund the sum of N50,000 for Councillorship candidates and N250,000 for Chairmanship candidates as stated on Time -Table and guidelines released for the conduct of the elections.
Prince Adeniyi also said that OYSIEC has released names of screened and qualified Chairmanship and Councillorship Candidates of 17 political parties who have signified their intentions to participate in the election.
According to the statement, “the Commission wishes to seize this opportunity to inform the general public and specially political parties that our attention had just been drawn to the order of Oyo State High Court in Suit No.I/177/2004: NATIONAL CONSCIENCE PARTY V. OYO STATE INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION AND ANOR. delivered on 18th March 2004 to the effect that sections 10 (b) (e) and (f) of the State Independent Electoral Commission Law of Oyo State contravene sections 7 (4), 106 and 107 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(as amended).
“In the circumstance, the commission hereby cancels payment of nomination fees of N50,000 for Councillorship candidates and N250,000 for Chairmanship candidates (as stated on Time Table and Guidelines for the Election) since the Constitution of Federal Republic takes precedence over any law or bylaws.”
Prince Adeniyi, therefore, enjoined all political parties that have signified to participate in the elections to submit the names of their party agents in the polling units, ward, collation centers and Local Government Collation Centers to OYSIEC offices in the 33 local government councils of Oyo State on or before the close of work on Tuesday, 19th May, 2021 for further necessary actions on part of the commission.
He reaffirmed that elections will take place in the 33 constitutionally recognized local government in the state from 8am to 3pm.
He added that there shall be restrictions on human and vehicular movements throughout the time of the election.
The Commission, however, enjoined all eligible voters to turn out en masse in the date of election and assuring them that their votes will count, adding that May 22, 2021 announced by the commission as election date remains intact.
