Osun: APC, OSSIEC lock horns over LG govt electioneering process

Ahead of the local government election in Osun State, the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the state electoral umpire have embarked on allegations and counter allegations over the electioneering process.

It should be recalled that the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) had earlier fixed February 2025 to conduct local government elections in the state.

Earlier this week, the OSSSIEC Chairman, Barr Abioye, addressed a press conference in Osogbo, the state capital yesterday, where he alleged that some political parties participating in the forthcoming local government elections in the state violated the provisions and procedures regarding substitution of candidates.

The OSSIEC chairman stated that his commission would allow a 48-hour deadline for the affected parties to correct the said infractions having to do with the nomination of chairmanship, vice-chairmanship and councillorship candidates by the APC in nine local government council areas of the state.

The affected local government council areas, according to Barr Hashim, are Atakumosa-West, Ede-South, Egbedore, Ife-Central, Ifedayo, Isokan, Olorunda and Oriade.

However, the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a release signed by its Chairman Sooko Tajudeen Lawal on Thursday raised a series of allegations against the Barrister Hashim Abioye-led Osun State Independent Electoral Commission(OSSIEC) ranging from denying the opposition APC a level play ground for the local government council elections slated for February 22nd, 2024.

According to the release, the party claimed that its effort to ensure delivery of the necessary documents to the OSSIEC was not forthcoming as the OSSIEC secretariat was closed as at 2:15pm on Thursday 19th September, 2024, noting that all efforts made by the APC yielded no result as there was no one to contact for purpose of official duties placed on the OSSIEC over the issues.

The release further said some of the alleged irregularities raised by the OSSIEC were caused from the administrative loopholes of the Commission who had not thoroughly done a fact check before rushing to the press, adding that OSSIEC does not even have a public relation officer with whom any political party could relay its worries and complaints in case of any administrative errors while the Chairman does virtually all the administrative jobs.

APC added that the conduct of the Barr Hashim-led OSSIEC is an indication that he is working assiduously to deliberately frustrate the brighter chances of the APC in the elections by making himself and all the categories of staff of the commission inaccessible by hurriedly closing the office before 2:30pm today when the party’s counsel came for enquiries. With this questionable and suspicious conduct of Barr Hashim-led OSSIEC, does one need to think twice that the electoral body is compromised and it is not capable of holding a free, fair and credible election?

“We shall employ all constitutionally acceptable means to ensure that the candidates of our party are not victimized by a pungently compromised electoral body that is not acting in tandem with its supposed independent attribute.

“Part of the reasons why we are smelling a rat about the independent nature of the Hashim-led OSSIEC is not limited to facts stated above”, the Osun State APC chairman stated.

However, in a response to the allegations, the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) has said it will not be distracted by any attempt of blackmail in its efforts to conduct free and fair local government polls.

OSSIEC in a statement signed by Sadiat Isiaka on Thursday on behalf of the information unit of the commission, OSSIEC said the Commission is not only a media friendly organization, but also one that carries all stakeholders along in all its activities.

The statement added that the commission won’t be distracted from carrying out its mandate without fear or favour.

Read the full statement below

“The attention of the Information Unit of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) has been drawn to a fallacious claim by a political party in Osun State that the Commission does not have a public relations unit, desk or officer.

“We wish to reiterate that the Commission is not only a media friendly organization, but also one that carries all stakeholders along in all its activities. Since the inauguration of the present leadership at OSSIEC, its activities have been most transparent and open in line with global best practices. At no time has the Commission shut his doors against any individual not to talk of a political party or its accredited representative. All political parties are being carried along both directly and through their recognized body, that is the Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC).

“Members of the public would be reminded that before the Commission issued a timetable for the elections, all registered political parties in Osun State were invited and a press conference was held. Copies of the newspaper publication were given to all the political parties, so also copies of the guidelines and manual. Electronic copies of the timetable, the guidelines and manual were also circulated in the media, and they are still in circulation.

“We wish to state further that when it was time for primary elections of political parties, the timetable was adjusted by extending the time for primary elections to allow for more inclusive participation of political parties.

“Coming to the issue of nomination forms, the Commission’s Chairman, Barrister Hashim Abioye magnanimously gave forms to some political parties, one of whom was the All Progressives Congress (APC) precisely, to be paid for later, in order to save the political parties and their candidates from imminent closure of nomination period as contained in the timetable released, published and distributed to all political parties free of charge.

“To this effect, the statement of the APC and the words ascribed to their acclaimed Lawyer was most uncharitable to the Commission and the Chief Electoral Commissioner in person of Barr. Hashim Abioye who, inside his office, personally handed over more than 250 nomination forms to the official of the APC and their acclaimed lawyer without asking for payment as at the time nomination was about to close, when the APC feigned frustration about bank issues regarding payment for nomination forms.

“Further to this, the Verification Committee set up by the Commission was inaugurated in the presence of members of the fourth estate of the realm, and the report of the Committee, after the conclusion of their assignment, is in the public domain.

“Apart from the Information Unit of the Commission that has been living up to its responsibilities, the Chairman of the Commission has not left anyone in the dark through his personal efforts and through his spokesperson.

“It is therefore unfortunate that a political party would choose blackmail as a tool in an attempt to rubbish the laudable efforts of the Commision just because the said political party has found itself in an unpalatable situation foisted on itself by itself.

“We wish to caution that blackmail however beautifully decorated will never distract the Commission from carrying on with its mandate without fear or favour, as we will not break the law on any account, we will only advise that any person who feels aggrieved by any decision or action of the Commission should seek redress in court instead of resorting to cheap blackmail which is synonymous to futility.”