The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) has officially confirmed the active involvement of eighteen (18) registered political parties in the forthcoming Local Government Council Elections scheduled for April 27, 2024, in the state.
Chairman of the Commission, Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju, SAN, made this announcement during a television program in Ibadan on Tuesday. He revealed that the Commission has received the list of candidates from these political parties, who are vying for various positions in the upcoming elections.
Furthermore, Olagunju stated that the Commission is in the final stages of preparing to conduct candidate screenings in batches, so as to ensure their eligibility for the elections.
He commended the political parties for their peaceful conduct of primaries and encouraged them to maintain this decorum throughout their election campaigns.
Regarding the possibility of implementing electronic voting in the polls, Olagunju clarified that the current local government electoral law in the state does not provide for electronic voting. However, he mentioned that electronic voting could be considered if the Oyo State House of Assembly approves the revised law proposed by OYSIEC, possibly by the end of October 2023.
Olagunju also emphasized the Commission’s commitment to building upon the successes achieved in the 2021 elections. He called for peace, urging everyone to avoid intimidation and harassment, and instead, focus on conducting objective election campaigns.
He concluded by encouraging residents of the state to participate in the local government council elections, underscoring the Commission’s dedication to conducting a free, fair, transparent, and credible electoral process by 2024. Olagunju also affirmed the Commission’s positive collaboration with security agencies and relevant stakeholders to ensure a credible election.
