Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) Chairman, Barrister Hashim Abioye, has assured the public that the forthcoming local government election will hold as scheduled on February 22, 2025.
Speaking on Thursday in Osogbo at a day workshop for staff of OSSIEC organized by Justice, Development and Peace Makers’ Centre, JDPMC, funded by European Union.
According to him, there is nothing as we have it today that has stopped the election process and I don’t think there could be anything that will stop the election process.
“we have been facing legal challenges, litigation is part of the election processing and as we have it now I can not say that we can’t have another one tomorrow, we are having it already, infact, today we were in court, last week we were in court, so that is not a problem at all, as they come we tackle them.
Chairman of the commission, Barrister Hashim Abioye, assured electorates in the state of credible poll, noting that the commission under his watch will not bend rules to favor any political party come February 22, 2025.
When asked if all registered political parties are still committed to participating in the election, Abioye said even though some political parties are in court challenging the non inclusion of their candidates for reasons the commission has already advanced in the past, political parties are still committed to the forthcoming election.
He said, “You know we addressed the press when the verification committee concluded their exercise, the report of the verification committee is what we acted upon and upon our action we could not bend the rules for any political party.
“If you have not followed the rules we can not help it and that is what some of the political parties are battling with now.
“The issue is not about all, it is about some people not having the opportunity of participating in the election as candidates because of the factors that affect them, so it is the generality of the process and is not about all the political parties.
He disclosed that contrary to reports that some political parties have pulled out of the upcoming election, the commission have the commitment of all the political parties participating in the election.
