Osun Holds Local Government Election

Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) on Saturday successfully conducted election into the 30 local government councils of the state.

The exercise which was peaceful across the councils was held amidst the presence of heavy armed policemen and soldiers drafted to the state to maintain law and order.

As early as 7am voters started trooping out to their polling units to cast their votes for their candidate. No fewer than 12 registered political parties participated in the exercise. However, Labour Party pull out of the exercise in the dying minutes.

Governor Ademola, his deputy, secretary to the state government and other top government officials in the state including nine members of House of Representatives and three senators representing the state at the national assembly made it home to participate in the election.

Speaking with newsman shortly after casting his vote at Sagba/Abogunde ward 2, unit 9, Ede, Governor Ademola Adeleke described the exercise as peaceful and successful. He lauded President Ahmed Tinubu for supporting rule of law that enable the election to take place across the state.

Governor Adeleke who urged all eligible voters to exercise their franchise peacefully and later return to their homes said Mr. President is a true democrat with huge democratic credentials, submitting that his administration has all along been very supportive and collaborative with the federal government.

According to him, “In my first state broadcast on this crisis, I said this about the President: ‘Let me affirm that I know Mr. President to be a true democrat, a lover of rule of law, and a believer in the sanctity of the judicial process. I know, as a matter of fact, that Mr. President will never authorise a dictatorial violation of the constitution irrespective of who is involved. It is crucial to add that Mr. President will never support any action that is capable of generating bloodbath and bloodshed”

“In my second broadcast, I said this about Mr President : ‘We have confidence in the democratic credentials of President Tinubu, who we know will always insist on the rule of law’

The Governor who described the election process as seamless, commended the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) for a job well done, encouraged all and sundry to come out and vote peacefully, as this he said, is a crucial step in strengthening the nation’s democracy at the local level.

The Chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, Hashim Abioye, has claimed that operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested staff of the commission who are on election duty across the state.

Abioye made the claim in a statement issued via the commission’s official X page on Saturday.

While commending the electorates for coming out to exercise their right, Hashim appealed to the media community for the inability of the commission to provide accreditation materials.

He stated that it was the Police who had sealed off the OSSIEC head office where the materials were kept.

Abioye maintained that for the units where the material didn’t arrive early, it was due to the Police arrest of the officials conveying the materials, adding that new materials have been deployed and voting is now ongoing.

He said, “Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested staff of the commission who are on election duty across the state.

“For the units where material didn’t arrive early, it was due to Police arrest of the officials conveying the materials. However, new materials have been deployed, and voting is now ongoing.”