Oyo LG poll: Abide by electoral laws, OYSIEC tells political parties

The Chairman of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), Mr Isiaka Olagunju, has called on political parties in the state to uphold the laws guiding the conduct of local government elections in the state.

This, he said, was crucial for the electoral body and political parties to maintain the harmonious relationship needed for a peaceful election.

He reiterated that the permanent voter card (PVC) will be the only document to be used for voting on the day of the election.

Olagunju made this call during a meeting with members of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) on Thursday at the headquarters of the commission in Agodi, Ibadan.

On plans as the April 27 date for the local government election approaches, Olagunju said the commission had started pasting the register of voters across the polling units for eligible voters to verify their names.

While responding to questions and issues raised at the meeting, the OYSIEC boss explained that the police and some other security agencies had promised to collaborate with OYSIEC to have a successful election.

He pointed out that the Oyo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun Corps, will not be engaged in election activities.

He urged IPAC to present representatives to jointly monitor the electoral process, particularly during the distribution and delivery of voting materials across polling units.

He admonished political parties not to compromise with the election guidelines but to contribute their quota as true citizens of Oyo State to its development.

In his remarks, the IPAC Chairman, Oyo State, Otunba Adegbenro Fagbemi, revealed that the meeting provided a platform to identify challenges that could hamper the smooth conduct of the election.

He expressed the readiness of IPAC members to observe the distribution of election materials across the seven geopolitical zones of the state.

He called for concerted efforts from relevant stakeholders and residents of the state to have a replica of the last general elections, which he said were peaceful.

In their separate remarks, the Secretary, All Progressives Congress, Oyo State, Alhaji Tajudeen Olanite, and Mr Kayode Babayemi of the African Action Congress urged members of participating political parties to abide by the election rules and regulations.

Kayode Babayemi also submitted that engagement with the security agencies and other relevant stakeholders is key to the success of the election, scheduled for April 27, 2024.

The meeting had in attendance representatives of participating political parties, OYSIEC commissioners, and the directors of the commission.