“We won’t be distracted from carrying out our mandate without fear or favour” – OSSIEC

The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) has responded to a claimed that the Commission does not have a public relations unit, desk or officer.

According to a statement signed by Sadiat Isiaka on Thursday on behalf of the information unit of the commission, OSSIEC said the Commision 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 Commision 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 accredted 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 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 partipation 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 Committe, 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.”

Earlier, the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a statement signed by its state Chairman, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, 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.