Osun LG Poll: “Well-meaning Election Stakeholders Applaud Our Preparation” – OSSIEC Chairman

_…Says, “We are ready and nothing is stopping us, insha Allah”

Chairman of Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), Barrister Hashim Abioye has responded to allegations of not prepared to conduct the February local government election in the state by apolitical party.

In a release signed by the OSSIEC boss on Saturday in Osogbo, Hashim clarified that the preparation level has reached the peak level, noting that the commission is carrying all stakeholders along in the process.

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“In reaction to the allegation by a political party that OSSIEC is not ready for the elections as scheduled, this is my reaction. We have a timeline of events and a schedule of activities towards the conduct of the Local Government Elections. The amended notice and adjusted timetable issued by the Commission is a complete package and enough for any serious minded political party in preparation for the election. We started very well by getting it right from the time of issuance of notice, and as far as the schedule of activities are concerned, there is no serious legitimacy question mark on the processes so far.

“On the part of the Commisison, we have been carrying out our activities within the circumference of the timetable, schedule of activities and guidelines issued by the Commission. What is more! We have appointed Electoral Officers (EOs) and Assistant Electoral Officers (AEOs) across all the Local Government Araeas. We even appointed Special duties EOs & AEOs for efficiency and effectiveness. We have organised two levels of retreats, seminars and training for the Commission members, staff and all the EOs & AEOs. As am talking, online adhoc staff recruitment is ongoing.

“It is paperless, first in history, powered by our high powered IT facilities that are on ground. The Commission has never had it so good as we are having today. Imagine the cost, the disorderliness, the security risks involved, even possibility of a stampede is envisaged of we are to go physical in adhoc staff recruitment. That has been eliminated now. There is no information anyone needs that is not available on the Commission’s website and portal. Our offices are also open for administrative and official purposes even at odd hours, to attend to issues bothering on conduct of the elections.

“It is time for campaign by political parties and you can see some political parties already doing that. There have been adequate logistical preparations and there won’t be any disappointment by God’s grace, in terms of election logistics. Election is sensitive and one needs also to be security conscious, I don’t have to speak with the whole of my tongue out of my mouth. But we are ready and nothing is stopping us, insha Allah, and I mean it! All I can tell you is that there is nothing left for us other than shortlisting the adhoc staff and to kit them adequate in terms of knowledge, technicality and logistics, which is the next in line. Majority of the Commissions activities are IT driven.

“We are engaging the public regularly. There is an ongoing program on Radio and Television tagged OSSIEC HALF HOUR! It is a public information and orientation platform courtesy of the Commission. We will expand the tentacles and frontiers of the information and orientation outreach of the Commission to reach larger audience. The Commission will also embark on physical campaigns, orientation, consultations and engagements with stakeholders some days before the election. That is our mandate and we shall deliver. As far as we are concerned, the process has been smooth with no hitches, and so it will be till the end.

“To verify our claim, anybody can visit the Commission’s website, monitor the activities and put my words here side by side the information on those materials and see whether we have not really done well in terms of preparations for the elections.”