Local Govt Elections: OSSIEC Kick-starts Process, Sets February 22, 2025 Date
….Commission to unveil Osun State Local Government Electoral and Democratic Institute (OSLEDI)
By Sadiat Isiaka,
In line with the electoral law which stipulates that the local government elections process starts from day one of announcement, Osun State Independent Electoral Commission has fixed February 22, 2025 as the date for council elections.
This is as it announced that the process of elections into the 30 Local Government Council Areas, the Area Council, the 32 Local Council Development Authorities and the 6 Area Council Development Authorities, across Osun State, will hold on Saturday, February 22, 2025.
This was disclosed by the OSSIEC Chairman, Hon (Barr.)Hashim Akintunde Abioye at a Press Conference, held in the Conference Hall of the Commission.
He assured that the Commission would be guided by the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the 2022 OSSIEC law, along with the laws of Osun to make the local government election a monumental success.
Disclosing that the Commission had met with critical stakeholders like the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Security Outfits, Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Political parties, among others, he promised to carry along the media as a cardinal stakeholder in propagating electoral activities.
Hon Abioye reiterated that in accordance with regulations and guidelines, in line with global best practices for elections, OSSIEC is set to work harmoniously with the regulations and procedures spelt out for the conduct of elections which will be followed religiously by political parties.
The OSSIEC Chairman also vouched that, under his leadership, the Commission is set to bring infrastructural changes to the Commission, against the infrastructure decay which, he claimed, his team met on ground after his appointment.
He announced that Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, OSSIEC will soon unveil the Osun State Local Government Electoral and Democratic Institute (OSLEDI) which, upon the necessary legislative and executive processes, will be a certificate awarding Institute that will be responsible for organizing seminars, training, orientation and certification mandatorily, for elected local government officials and other critical stakeholders in local government democracy, who are interested in further learning.
This,according to him, will ensure the sustainability of grassroots democratic values with a view to bringing governance much closer to the grassroots, advancing that,” Better education and orientation will go a long way in solidifying local government democracy.”
Present at the Press Conference were the Electoral Commissioners, including: Hon(Barr.) Adeniyi Abioye, Hon. Timothy Folaranmi, Hon Olalere Rauf, Hon Olubunmi Ibiloye, Hon Mobolaji Niniola and Hon Wale Iyaniwura as well as Careerists led by the Executive Secretary in the Commission, Barr Adedapo Ayodeji Adejumo.