Osun LG Poll: Only One Party To Contest As Govt Declares Public Holiday

By Ayodele Oni

Osun State Government has declared Friday, October 15 a public holiday as part of preparations for the Local Government election in the state on Saturday, October 15.

In a statement on Thursday by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Funke Egbemode, the state government said the holiday was to allow those who will be travelling to their respective local government areas on the account of the election, do so.

This is just as the State Independent Electoral Commission, said only one political party will be contesting in the council poll.

The government also announced the restriction of movements across the state on Saturday, from 7:00am till 3:00pm, urging commuters to take note.

The statement added, ” Ahead of the Local Government Elections in the state, the state government has declared Friday, October 15, a work-free day to allow citizens and residents of the state travel to their respective local government areas to cast their ballot.

“The government is therefore urging citizens to go out and perform their civic duties on Saturday, as this presents yet another avenue to elect representatives and leaders who expectedly will work for our collective aspirations at the local government level.

“Citizens are also advised to maintain law and order, and not allow themselves to be used to foment trouble or impair the smoothness of the process and the peace of the state.

“Parents and guardians are advised to rein in  their wards so that they are not used as agents of lawlessness and violence.”

The Chairman  of theState Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), Segun Oladitan, disclosed that the Osun local government election would go on as planned.

The election, according to OSIEC, has been scheduled to hold on Saturday, October 15, 2022.

Oladitan, while responding to questions on Thursday in Osogbo, revealed that only one political party had signified intention to contest in the poll. He however did not mention the name of the political party.

“As of three weeks, only one political party dignified its readiness contest the election.”

He added that the election result would be made public after voting on Saturday evening or by the morning of the next day.

The Osun local government election has been a matter of controversy between the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and OSIEC.