From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Contrary to rumours that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will conduct the 2025 local government election in Osun State, the State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) has stated that it will conduct the election.
OSIEC Chairman Bar Hashim Abioye has insisted that February 22, 2025, is sacrosanct for the local government election and warned the people not to listen to purported postponement rumours.
He also warned that the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and the Action Peoples Party (APP), may be disqualified in some local governments for running foul of the provisions of the law regarding substitution of candidates.
Abioye, who spoke to journalists in Osogbo on the verification committee, warned that the affected political parties have 48 hours to amend their substitution or face disqualification in some local governments.
According to him, the APC submitted nomination forms, which were filled by candidates different from names submitted to the commission as their candidates, and it occurred in about seven local governments.
Abioye disclosed that only the three parties had major infractions in their forms out of the 18 political parties that is participating in the election.
“Some political parties, notably the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), the Action Peoples Party (APP) ran foul of the provisions and procedure regarding substitution of candidates.
“In Atakumosa West Local Government, the chairmanship and vice chairmanship candidates submitted by the party to the commission were not the persons who filled out nomination forms submitted to OSSIEC.
“In the same vein, the respective vice-chairmanship candidates submitted by the APC for Ede South, Egbedore, Ife Central, Ifedayo, Isokan, Olorunda and Oriade Local Government Areas were completely different from the persons that filled and submitted nomination forms to the Commission. Candidates of the APC in several Wards across various local government areas were affected by this incurable anomaly,” Abioye added.
He said the verification committee has reached out to those that have infractions in their forms to approach the commission if necessary within the next 48 hours.
