Osun LG poll will hold on Saturday, OSIEC chairman insists

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo
Chairman, Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), Otunba Segun Oladitan has said that the local government election scheduled to hold on Saturday, October 15 would be held as planned.
Oladitan, while featuring on a radio program in Osogbo on Thursday maintained that the commission is committed to conduct free, fair and credible election come Saturday.
The OSIEC chairman stated that the commission has not received any court order prohibiting it from conducting the local government polls.
“As at this morning, we have not receive (any order) from any quarters asking us not to go ahead with the Saturday election. I don’t know why people are deliberately misinforming the public. It is for mischievous purpose. There is no any injunction in any court restricting us from conducting the election,” he said.
When asked how many political parties are participating in the election, Oladitan said only political party that signified intention to participate will contest in the poll.
“We asked for nomination from political parties, those political parties who showed intention to participate, some collected forms but didn’t return it. Those who collected form filled the forms. In fact, their aspirants (were) screened and have become candidates. Those who are ready to participate will contest,” Oladitan said
He promised that winners of the elections would be known by Sunday, a day after the conduct of the elections.
Speaking on the alleged illegality of the election, Oladitan explained that the law empowered the commission to conduct the election, adding that only the court can determine its illegality after its conclusion.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All People’s Party (APP) had approached the court with different litigations challenging the commission over the planned council poll.