The candidates for chairmanship and councillorship in the next local government council election in the state were screened by the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) on Friday.

Based on the information submitted and the requirements outlined by the state’s electoral legislation, the screening process, which took place at the OYSIEC headquarters in Agodi-Gate, Ibadan, allowed the commission to identify eligible candidates.

The OYSIEC Chairman, Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju, SAN, while speaking on the screening exercise, attributed the success recorded by the commission to cooperation received from the political parties and their candidates

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He noted that IPAC would set up a security team among members of the political parties in a bid to have a violence-free election.

He admonished the populace to put aside negative thoughts they have on the conduct of local government council elections and to identify the right person and exercise their fundamental right on election day.

In their separate remarks, the Secretary of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Oyo State, Alhaji Olanite Tajudeen and Acting Public Relations Officer of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), Oyo State, Micheal Ogunsina, expressed the readiness of their parties for the council poll.

The duo admonished the leadership of OYSIEC to live up to expectations by providing a level playing ground for all the political parties.

Alhaji Olanite also harped on the need for the Oyo state government to read riot acts to political parties ahead of the election, saying that this will encourage peaceful elections come 2024.

 

Olagunju explained that the names of qualified and successful candidates would be made known soon to all the political parties, while some candidates who have issues with their profiles are to appear for another screening by next week for proof of claims.

He noted that IPAC would set up a security team among members of the political parties in a bid to have a violence-free election.

He admonished the populace to put aside negative thoughts they have on the conduct of local government council elections and to identify the right person and exercise their fundamental right on election day.

In their separate remarks, the Secretary of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Oyo State, Alhaji Olanite Tajudeen and Acting Public Relations Officer of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), Oyo State, Micheal Ogunsina, expressed the readiness of their parties for the council poll.

The duo admonished the leadership of OYSIEC to live up to expectations by providing a level playing ground for all the political parties.

Alhaji Olanite also harped on the need for the Oyo state government to read riot acts to political parties ahead of the election, saying that this will encourage peaceful elections come 2024.

 

“You will recall that the screening exercise started on the 30th of October 2023, and it ended today, 10th November, 2023.

I must say we couldn’t have achieved what we achieved if not for the cooperation we received from the entire political parties and their candidates, we appreciate you all.

”What remains now is that some of the candidates who submitted their profiles, some are still under investigation, if we see any of them that is not fit to contest for either chairman or councillor, there is still room for a concerned political party to make a substitution for such candidate. If there is none, the coast is clear, parties can now start campaigning for electorates in various local governments for victories come 27th April 2024.

The Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Oyo State Chapter, Apostle Dare Ojo, in his remarks, explained that all the registered political parties in the state have agreed to participate in the election.

Apostle Dare, who is also the Chairman of the Action Democratic Party in the state, emphasized the need for adequate security and constant orientation of voters for a peaceful election and massive turnout.

He appealed to the Oyo state government to put in place a security architecture that is capable of securing the lives and properties of the populace on election day and beyond.

He noted that IPAC would set up a security team among members of the political parties in a bid to have a violence-free election.

He admonished the populace to put aside negative thoughts they have on the conduct of local government council elections and to identify the right person and exercise their fundamental right on election day.

In their separate remarks, the Secretary of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Oyo State, Alhaji Olanite Tajudeen and Acting Public Relations Officer of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), Oyo State, Micheal Ogunsina, expressed the readiness of their parties for the council poll.

The duo admonished the leadership of OYSIEC to live up to expectations by providing a level playing ground for all the political parties.

Alhaji Olanite also harped on the need for the Oyo state government to read riot acts to political parties ahead of the election, saying that this will encourage peaceful elections come 2024.