The Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) has fixed Saturday 8th October, 2016 for the conduct of elections into 20 Local Government Areasand newly-created 37 Local Council Development Areas of the state.
The elections into 20 Local Government Areas and newly-created 37 Local Council Development Areas of the state are coming after one year after the expiration of duly-elected chairmen and councillors, but the government has been appointing caretaker committees since the expiration.
Risikat Ogunfemi, Chairman of the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission, (OGSIEC), explained that the decision is in line with section 197(1)(b) constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and section 10(1) of Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission Law 2007 (as amended).
No fewer than 17 political parties are expected to participate in the forthcoming local government elections in Ogun. The number of local government aspirants accredited to contest in the LG elections are 207 from different parties accross the state.
Mr Mutiu Agboke, Commissioner in the State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC), disclosed this at the screening exercise for councillorship aspirants of various political parties at the commission’s headquarters in Abeokuta on Thursday.
The commissioner, who also heads the screening committee, said the exercise was aimed at ascertaining the eligibility of the candidates to contest in the election. He assured the people of the state of the commission’s readiness to conduct free, fair and credible local government polls.
Meanwhile ahead of the October 8 local government election in Ogun state, uneasy calm has returned to opposition parties in the state, following the defection of some members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC yesterday to Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN ).
The defectors, numbering about 500 who stormed the UPN Secretariat at Ijuri/Agbara/Igbesa LCDA in Ogun West Senatorial District appreciated the party leaders for accepting them into the party, assuring that they would continue to remain committed and steadfast in their new party. Speaking on behalf of the group, the chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers, Agbara unit, Alhaji Adebayo Abija commended the national leader of the party, Otunba Rotimi Paseda for providing the healthy environment for the new entrants.
Abija, said majority of the defectors were impressed with the four cardinal programmes and empowerment schemes initiated by the party to better the lives of the downtrodden. “Many of us here today are from one party to the other, even including the ruling APC. But we became interested in this united party because its remains the only peaceful political party in Ogun state today without power tussle or factions.
“We are highly impressed with the four cardinal programmes of the party of free health care system, free education, massive job creation and empowerment of the youths. We are also not unaware of various empowerment schemes initiated by the national leader of this great Party, who is also the founder of Paseda Legacy Foundation, Otunba Rotimi Paseda to assist the less privileged in the society.
“We want to thank Otunba Paseda unreservedly for providing conducive environment for our cross over, but we want to assured you that, come October 8 local government election in this axis, UPN will emerge victorious.”
Receiving the defectors on behalf of the State Chairman, the Ogun West Senatorial Chairman of the party, Chief Kayode Adeogun urged the new members to follow due procedures and obtain their membership card from their respective Ward chairman to update their data with the national Secretariat.
Chief Adeogun who was joined by the party Chairman in Yewa North local government, Alh. Taofeek Adeyemi and the State Youths leader, Mr. Idris Babatunde however commended the courage and tenacity of the defectors, assuring them that the party would continue to give priority to the yearnings and aspirations of the people as encapsulated in the motto of the party as “Peoples First”.
Speaking on telephone interview, the gubernatorial candidate of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in last general election in the state, Otunba Rotimi Paseda has assured the good citizens of Ogun State of better days ahead, stressing that, their resolve for better change and governance would be put to test in the forthcoming local government election.
Paseda who spoke with the mammoth crowd on phone, emphasized that, the party would continue to accommodate everybody irrespective of their political affiliation, tribe or race, in as much as party policies will reflect on the people.
“I want to once again reiterate to my people and our friends from other parties, Paseda remain all inclusive. I will relate, partner and work with anybody with unblemished character, regardless as I do not see UPN, APC, PDP, or SDP.
“All I’m seeing right now is my people, no more no less. That is why anyone can come to UPN and take tickets with nomination form and expression of interest form paid for by me. You are free to remain in the party to continue your political life if you so wish so long as you abide by UPN values of peoples first.
“I always tell my people not to play politics with people’s lives, but engage in constructive criticism only and no witch hunting, those are my values”, Paseda concluded.
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