The Ogun State House of Assembly has called on the leadership of the State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) to strictly observe its guidelines for the upcoming November 16 Local Government elections.
Speaker Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide made the call today during a session involving OGSIEC and the State Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC), represented by Chairman Comrade Sanyaolu Abayomi, at the request of the Assembly.
Joined by fellow lawmakers, the Speaker urged OGSIEC to ensure that every step leading to the election aligns with the national constitution and state electoral law. He assured that the Assembly is prepared to collaborate with the Commission for a transparent election.
Adding to the discussion, Minority Leader Lukman Adeleye and Ewekoro Constituency member Yusuf Amosun emphasized that the election process must strictly follow the constitution to avoid unnecessary litigation before, during, and after the election.
They affirmed that the Assembly is open to revising the State’s electoral laws if required.
Earlier, IPAC Chairman Sanyaolu, speaking through IPAC PRO Itunu Abioro, proposed lowering the administrative fees to allow wider participation in the election.
In response, Mr. Tunji Akonni, OGSIEC’s Commissioner for Operations, stated that the Commission is working closely with all stakeholders, including IPAC, and that the OGSIEC Guidelines have been ratified by the Assembly under the State electoral law.
He advised political parties to field credible candidates, campaign actively, and appoint trustworthy party agents for election monitoring, noting that many parties lacked representation during previous elections.