By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The Chairman of the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC), Mr. Babatunde Osibodu, has disclosed that the commission will adopt a manual collation process for the upcoming 2024 local government elections in the state.
Mr Osibodu who made this known while featuring on Eagle 102.5 FM’s current affairs program, “Frontline”, said this will be a result of financial constraints for not deploying technological methods for result collation.
The OGSIEC Chairman while stressing that such technologies would be “too expensive for the commission to bear,” assured that the manual process would still be conducted with the highest level of integrity and transparency.
Addressing the delay of the elections, he said certain factors beyond the commission’s control had made it challenging to adhere strictly to the timelines set out in Section 27 of the Local Government Law of Ogun State, 2006, saying, “This law mandates that local government council elections must be held not earlier than sixty days and not later than thirty days before the expiration of the current council’s term”.
On voter registration, the OGSIEC Chairman hinted that there would be no new voter registrations for the 2024 local government elections, adding, ” Instead, the commission will use voter data compiled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2023 gubernatorial elections”
Emphasizing that OGSIEC does not have the mandate to register voters, hence the reliance on INEC’s existing voter database, he stressed the importance of participation from all political parties in the upcoming elections to ensure a fair and democratic process.
“If opposition parties do not put forward candidates, it opens the door to manipulation and rigging,” he warned. He encouraged all parties to actively participate and field candidates to maintain the integrity of the electoral process and uphold the democratic values of Ogun State”.
On the criticisms over the non-refundable ₦250,000 administrative fee required for party participation, he said the fee does not violate the 1999 Constitution or the Electoral Act of 2022, as some critics, particularly the Inter-Party Advisory Council, have claimed.
“There is no law prohibiting the commission from charging an administrative fee,” he explained, adding that the fee is charged per party, not per individual candidate. Mr. Osibodu further elaborated that a court judgment had not banned the administrative fee itself but had prohibited the collection of an interest of nomination fee by the commission.
Speaking further on the coming election, Mr. Osibodu said OGSIEC is taking all necessary measures to prevent violence and ensure the safety of lives and property during the elections.
The OGSIEC Chairman expressed confidence in the security arrangements being put in place and called on the public to support the commission’s efforts to maintain peace, saying “We are working closely with security agencies to provide a safe environment for all voters,” he assured.
“We are committed to upholding the highest standards of transparency and fairness,” he declared, urging all stakeholders, including political parties and the electorate, to cooperate with the commission to achieve a successful electoral process. As the election date approaches, all eyes will be on OGSIEC to see how it navigates these challenges and delivers an election that accurately reflects the will of the people of Ogun State”.
