The Chairman, Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC),Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju, SAN, on Thursday, said the Commission was committed to leaving a legacy worthy of emulation as electoral umpire through the conduct of credible poll.
Speaking further at the Guest Forum Program of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Correspondents’ Chapel tagged” Speak Out” at its Secretariat, Ago Tapa, Mokola, Ibadan, Olagunju said it was high time for citizens to show concern for democracy at the grassroots by participating actively in the council polls.
He identified trust deficit and lack of confidence in the local government electoral umpires by electorates as parts of factors responsible for voter low turn-out during the council elections.
The OYSIEC chairman assured that his team would intensify efforts on sensitization to ensure there is an improvement in voter turn-out in the forthcoming local government councils election in the state.
Olagunju maintained that the commission had no reported case of staff misconduct during the last election, promising that all the political parties will be given a level playing ground.
While commending the NUJ Correspondents’ chapel for the initiative, Olagunju , tasked the media on voter education to aids massive participation in the next local government councils election.
“I am highly elated to be here, sensitization of voters is very key for massive participation in the election , and we will need the media to achieve this.
“I must say that there is no unusual interference from the executives, and we must commend the Governor for this.
“ Our credibility is intact, we will be extremely prudent, we won’t relent but this Commission become a legacy in which other states governments will emulate in conducting local government councils election.”
Responding to questions at the interactive forum, Olagunju, said it was essential for OYSIEC to screen candidates of the political parties to verify if they meet the criteria stipulated by the electoral law.
He hinted that the commission would liaise with security agencies to beef up security architecture of the state in order to have a peaceful election.
Olagunju also enjoined all political parties to cooperate with the commission in achieving a peaceful, credible and transparent election.
He explained that OYSIEC will rely on the polling units used by INEC as the Commission has no power to create polling units under the law.
” We are going to display the voter register before the election, this will be from the INEC, thank God, INEC just had elections.
“ Candidates are to be screened to find out if they are eligible to contest in the election.
Candidate must be an indigene and resident of the state, live in the state for ten years, must be 21 years , have three years tax clearance and senior secondary school result among others”.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Correspondents’ Chapel, Oyo State, Comrade Raji Adebayo, said the chapel had hosted some distinguished personalities in the country to its guest program forum.
He explained that in the recent past, there were a series of issues facing the conduct of local government elections, such as credibility, which according to him, made some political parties to back out of participation.
He commended OYSIEC for having 18 political parties willing to participate in the local government councils election, saying that it was an indication that the political parties have confidence in the current leadership of the commission.
