Sixteen opposition political parties  in Osun State have announced their withdrawal from the upcoming Local Government elections. The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission previously stated that the next Local Government election in the State would be held on February 22, 2025.

Mr. Victor Akande, the Osun State Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee, while addressing journalists on Monday, 15 July 2024 on behalf of the opposition parties accused the OSSIEC Chairman, Mr. Hashim Abioye, of intentionally withholding information regarding the exercise from the parties.

Akande further claimed that Abioye intended to hire PDP members as electoral officials for the election and that he failed to share information about the nomination fees for the positions that would be contested.

He stated, “We have reliable information that Abioye has prepared plans to use PDP members as electoral officers during the Osun Local Government election, which we all know what that means. His objective is to lure us into having our parties’ primary elections without disclosing the amount each party will pay, which, of course, will lead to futile efforts after declaring an expensive charge.

“We expected the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide up-to-date information from Abioye, but the reverse is the case, as we constantly get information regarding the Osun Local Government election from PDP e-rats. We felt it expedient to say that the state’s PDP-led administration is deliberately creating crises all over the place to scare our people away from the upcoming council election, as only a secure mind will have the fortitude to go out and vote for his or her choice.

“It was on these themes that we decided, after consulting with our party members, to withdraw from the next Local Government election in Osun State. Political parties involved in this include the Action Alliance, African Democratic Congress, Accord Party, Social Democratic Party, African Action Congress, New Nigeria Peoples Party, Allied Peoples Party, and Peoples Redemption Party.

Some of the other parties are; The National Rescue Movement, Young Peoples Party, Action Democratic Party, Action Peoples Party, Action Democratic Party, Boot Party, and the All Progressives Grand Alliance. We’re waiting to see if the poll with just the Peoples Democratic Party is credible.

In response, Abioye denied the accusations made against him and stated that he was still in contact with the appropriate stakeholders before deciding how much would be required in nomination fees for the position.

Abioye said “It is unfortunate. I have just made our intention known as a part of the arrangements being made in advance of the election. Not only have we not drawn the list, but we are about to appoint electoral officials and assistant electoral officers.

“We’ll talk to them, but we won’t accept nominations from political parties to choose election officers and assistant electoral officers. Thus, I’m not sure where the accusation originated. The only thing we are doing right now is setting up the appointments of electoral officers and assistant electoral officers to get ready to hold Local Government elections.

“I have not specified a sum for nomination fees. Political parties are the ones with whom we must consult while appointing electoral officers. They will also be consulted over nomination form fees. We haven’t determined a figure. Thus, none of these claims are true. I implore the media representatives to request that the IPAC Chairman provide the names of at least two individuals who are currently on the list of electoral officers.

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