OGSIEC CANVASSES TOLERANCE AS IT EXTENDS SCREENING EXERCISE

The Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) has extended the screening exercise for chairmanship candidates participating in the forth coming 2021 local government elections to Friday, 18th June, 2021.

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 tomorrow, 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 forthcoming 2021 Local Government elections in the State have commended the screening exercise by the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) conducted for aspiring Councillors and Chairmen.

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.

It will be recall that, Mr Ajayi Olaoye, a People’s Democratic Party Chairmanship candidate from Sagamu Local Government had also described the screening as fantastic without error and gave kudos to the Commission, just as Honnourable Leke Odusanya, Chairmanship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party from Ijebu North East Local Government and Abolade Shamsudeen, of the Labour Party from Obafemi Owode Local Government said the exercise was peaceful, saying the verification was excellent. 

Similarly, Tunde Emilola-Gazal, Dare Paul Alebiosu, Chairmanship and Vice Chairmanship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ijebu-Ode Local Government, and Adebayo Abdulsalam Ayorinde, Chairmanship candidate, Abeokuta North Local Government, also of the APC described the exercise as smooth, advising other aspirants to comply with advice and recommendations.