After 10 years the last one was held, the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) is set to hold local government election on Saturday, January 27, 2018.
The date was arrived at, at a meeting the commission held with the representatives of political parties in its secretariat in Osogbo on Wednesday.
At the meeting, which was observed by newsmen, OSIEC chairman, Chief Segun Oladitan, called for suggestions of possible dates for the poll from the representatives of political parties after January 18, to give room for the mandatory 90 days preparation period as require by the constitution.
The choice of January 27 was however arrived at after deliberations by parties’ representatives present at the meeting.
He subsequently declared active the 90 days notice constitutionally required by the law before the conduct of local government elections, beginning from Wednesday, October 18.
Oladitan explained that nomination forms for candidates will not be paid for, adding that candidates can obtain the forms from OSIEC office free of charge after paying administrative charge.
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During the election, Oladitan said the position of chairman will not be contested for, as whoever wants to be chairman must first contest councillorship post in his or her ward.
“Osun plans to introduce parliamentary system of government at local government level. With that in mind, after the election, councillors in each local government councils would be the ones to elect chairmen from amongst themselvee”, Oladitan said.
According to him, election will hold in 378 wards in 30 local government areas and 38 Local Council Development Area (LCDA)s, Area Councils and Area Offices in the state.
Without ruling out the possibility of increase in the figure, OSIEC chairman noted that 36 political parties recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will participate in the election.
He then appealed to political parties and other stakeholders that will take part in the election to abide by the rules and avoid any act capable of disrupting the exercise.
BOLA BAMIGBOLA, Osogbo
