From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) has put paid to the rumours of a plan to conduct a local government election as the commission disclosed its readiness to conduct the election.
A statement by the chairman of OSIEC, Otunba Segun Oladitan, made available to reporters, on Thursday said the commission would meet all registered political parties, Friday (today) to discuss the coming local government election.
The statement explained that the essence of the meeting is to rob minds together with the political parties in respect of the forthcoming local government election in the state.
“The meeting which is slated to hold at the conference hall of the commission along old Ikirun road is expected to have all the political parties adequately represented,” the statement added.
OSIEC, through the statement, further reaffirms her commitment to conducting a local council election that will be acceptable to all.
The PDP had urged Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and religious leaders in the state to prevail on Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Timothy Owoeye, to shelve plans to conduct local government elections.
A statement by the chairman of the Osun PDP Media Management Committee, Prince Diran Odeyemi, said from all indications, Owoeye planned to arm-twist his colleagues in the House of Assembly, and reverse the extension of tenure by 6 months granted the current caretaker committees managing affairs of council areas in the state just about one month ago.
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According to him, the move to reverse the 6 months extension was to pave way for hurried local government elections that Oyetola and Owoeye wanted to use as bobby traps for the incoming administration of the PDP.
Odeyemi also said the plan to hurriedly conduct the local government elections was part of many problems that the outgoing administration wanted to create for Ademola Adeleke’s administration.
In his response, the media aide to the speaker, Kunle Alabi, warned the PDP to desist from making unnecessary allegations, saying “Governor Adegboyega Oyetola remains the governor of the state till November 26, while the State House of Assembly under the leadership of RT. Hon Timothy Owoeye will continue to discharge its duties till June 5, 2023.
He said, “the constitutional duties of the House of Assembly according to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria includes making laws and not conducting elections. The State Independent Electoral Commission is saddled with that function. Why is the PDP questioning the constitutional duties of these bodies?
“Senator Adeleke should be aware that he is just a governor-elect and as such has a responsibility to put on a leash the many charlatans speaking on his behalf.”