LG Election: OGSIEC Boss Says Election Should Not Be A Do Or Die Affair

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Mr. Babatunde Osibodu, Chairman, Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) has affirmed that the process of election, particularly at the local government level should not be a do or die affair.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Abeokuta by Ahmed Taofeek, Press Officer, OGSIEC, the chairman hereby condemned electoral violence in whatever form.

Osibodu stated this in his office, Abeokuta that the commission would put necessary arrangements in place to ensure security of lives and property, for a peaceful local government election in the state.

Furthermore, he stressed that the commission would synergise with various security agencies in the state, in order to stem election violence. “When violence is tamed from elections, other things become easy, just as it will also boost the confidence of the electorate.”

He added that plans were in top gear to explore information technology to make electoral process faster and easier, while adequate recruitment and training of adhoc personnel would be properly done, to man the 4,038 polling units across the 20 local government areas.

“Information Technology is one of our major plans, we are liaising with Ogun State Tech-Hub to get necessary infrastructure in place. We will carry along every stakeholder, so as to ensure that the election is successful,” Osibodu said.

The OGSIEC boss assured that the forthcoming local government election in the state would be fair, transparent, equitable, even-handed and unbiased, to all political parties and other partakers.

“We want to assure everyone that the commission will be fair, equitable, just, transparent and even-handed with stakeholders, political parties, candidates and others. We are also taking our time to make proper arrangements, so that we won’t come up with a date and change it later.

“We cannot give a definite date for the exercise yet, as you know, we need to give 90 days notice to the public and the aspirants. We are also assessing what we have on ground,” Osibodu maintained.

Contributing, one of the Commissioners in the commission, Mrs. Gbemi Onasanya who pointed out that effective information dissemination is essential in the process of election, said the existing media bond with OGSIEC would be sustained, to keep members of the public abreast of happenings, describing them as partners in progress.