The Chairman of Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), Barrister Hashim Abioye, has said that 18 political parties will participate in February 22, 2025 local government elections in the state.
Abioye spoke on Thursday at a retreat organised by the commission for its members and management staff themed ‘Towards Credible Local Government Elections’.
He said, “I am glad to inform you that for the first time in the history of this commission, all 18 registered political parties in Osun State are participating in the local government election and have all submitted nominations.”
Abioye said the retreat was organised to educate and enlighten the commission’s staff and election stakeholders towards achieving success in the LG poll.
“I have been very conscious of our mandate; and learning from the past, this Commission cannot afford to fail a third time. OSSIEC has fallen under the hammer of the court twice, shivering under the question mark of the judiciary written in a red pen.
“The latest was in 2022 which I personally prosecuted in court, in good conscience at a time I never thought, nursed or had the idea of becoming an OSSIEC member not to talk of being the Chairman. Here we are today, as fate would have it, we have been doing everything to turn around the destiny of the Commission from that of a failure to a huge success.
“I am bold to say that if the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, as it is today constituted and driven, is served as a yardstick, the agitations to scrap State Independent Electoral Bodies will fizzle out and fade away.
“We have been very conscious and cautious so as not to encounter the pitfalls of the yesteryear,” added the OSIEC boss.
