Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) has extended the screening exercise for chairmanship candidates participating in the forthcoming 2021 Local Government Elections till today.
OGSIEC Chairman, Mr.Babatunde Osibodu who disclosed this in his office at Oke-Ilewo said the screening which was initially billed to end on Wednesday, 16th July, 2021 was extended in view of several entreaties received from political parties.
“It is quite imperative to state here that we are currently conducting screening exercise for the chairmanship candidates and twelve political parties have indicated interest in the elections, they have conducted their primaries, and we have been screening candidates since last week.
“Originally on our timetable, we were meant to conclude the screening of all the candidates by Tuesday 15th June, but because of the public holiday on Monday 14th, it was moved to Wednesday.
“However, we‘ve received a lot of entreaties from many of the parties because for extension owing some logistical issues that has prevented most of the candidates from presenting themselves for screening at OGSIEC.
“And we have graciously heed to their plea. The commission has decided that the screening exercise be extended until to Friday, 18th June, 2021,” Osibodu disclosed.
The OGSIEC boss further indicated that the extension would not affect the conduct of the election, as the commission was working assiduously to ensure smooth conduct of the exercise, calling for tolerance amongst the various political parties participating in the election.
Meanwhile, some chairmanship candidates participating in the council elections have commended the screening exercise conducted for aspiring councillors and chairmen by the OGSIEC.
Speaking shortly after they were screened, the duo of Dahunsi Olawale, an aspiring chairman from Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government under the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) as well as Tajudeen Akinpelu, another chairmanship aspirant for Yewa South Local Government on the platform of Action Alliance (AA), appreciated the commission for being transparent and impartial.
