Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, OSIEC, on Wednesday, said the Saturday January 27 local government election would hold in 71 out of 389 wards in the state.
The reason, according to the Chairman of the Commission, Otunba Segun Oladitan, at a press conference held in Osogbo, the state capital, is the withdrawal of 318 councillorship candidates.
He disclosed that another 12 political parties have withdrawn from participating in the election, remaining only 6 parties that would participate.
According to him, the election would hold in 6 wards of the Central District, 13 wards in the West and 52 wards in the East Senatorial District of the state.
He said, “for the purpose of this election which is based on the parliamentary system of government, 38 parties registered at the initial stage out of which only 18 signified their intention to participate.
“I can reliably tell you that 12 political parties have withdrawn from participating in the election, remaining only 6 political parties in the race.
“Of all the candidates representing the participating political parties in the 389 wards across the state, 318 councillorship candidates in 318 wards have been presented unopposed representing the candidates who satisfy the requirements of the law with reference to section 41 of the Electoral Act (2011) as amended. Therefore, there shall be elections in only 71 wards of the state.
Reacting to the court injunction against the commission, Oladitan said the state high court sitting in Ilesha had on Tuesday dismissed application for restraining the commission, hinting that the Federal High Court, Abuja also on Wednesday dismissed the exparte motion, sought to restrain the commission from conducting the Saturday local government election.
He assured that the commission has done everything necessary to ensure free and fair election, noting that there would be restriction on vehicular movement that would exclude federal ways from 7am to 2pm.
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