LG Poll: No Going Back On May 22 Date-OYSIEC
Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) has reaffirmed its determination to go ahead with the local government election on May 22, 2021, as scheduled.
This was as the commission expressed its readiness to refund the sum of N50,000 and N250,000 initially paid by the councillorship and chairmanship candidates, respectively, for the election.
As contained in a statement by the OYSIEC Electoral Commissioner (Voter Education), Prince Afeez Adeniyi, the election will take place in the 33 constitutionally-recognized local government areas in the state from 8am to 3pm on the scheduled date.
The statement also added that there shall be restrictions on human and vehicular movements throughout the period of the election.
The commission enjoined all eligible voters to turn out en masse during the election, assuring that their votes will count.
The statement stated that OYSIEC resolved to refund the money of those candidates that have paid before for the chairmanship and councillorship positions, in compliance with a court order.
“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 #50,000 for Councillorship candidates and #250,000 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,” the statement read.
OYSIEC also released the names of screened and qualified chairmanship and councillorship candidates of the 17 political parties that have signified their intentions to participate in the local council poll.
The statement 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 and local government collation centres to OYSIEC offices in the 33 local government areas on or before the close of work, Tuesday, next week, for further necessary actions.
