The Chairman, Oyo State Independent Electoral commission (OYSIEC), Aare Isiaka Olagunju,SAN, has responded to former Governor Adebayo Alao Akala’s request for the postponement of the coming local government election in the state.
The Chairman said that there is no plan or justification for the Commission to shift the election from May 22, 2021 to a later date.
Are Olagunju, who revealed this to PMParrot during a chat on Sunday explained that since the inauguration of the Commission on September 3, 2019, it has embarked on visitations and consultations to political parties, religious centres and other relevant stakeholders across the state.
The OYSIEC boss established that the essence of his many visits to all political parties’ offices was to reassure every participant of OYSIEC’s impartiality and commitment to free, fair, transparent, and credible local government poll.
Aare Olagunju disclosed that it would be unfair to extend the May 22 already scheduled for the election because of a political party.
He expressed surprise at calls by former governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala and other APC leaders in the state to extend the election date for them to participate.
“I was at APC secretariat to visit Baba Akin Oke and other state exco to assure them of our sincerity. We begged and appealed to them to participate in the election because we knew the likely outcome of the court judgement.” Olagunju said.
Aare Olagunju said there is no way the Commission could extend the election date owing to many preparations done in the last few months hence, the election will go on as planned.
Packaged by Kunle Gazali
