Amids controversies, Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) has said it plans to hold its local government elections across the state in October this year.
The chairman of the commission, Otunba Olusegun Oladuntan while addressing a press conference in Osogbo on yesterday said all the inhibiting factors and circumstances against the conduct of the elections have been ameliorated.
Oladuntan said while all previous laws on local government elections in the state had been repealed and the Osun State Electoral Law 2022 signed by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, the coast is clear for the exercise.
OSIEC chairman said that the commission has held parley with the political parties to brief them on the process.
While soliciting the support of Osun electorates, Oladuntan gave assurance that the commission will conduct free and fair elections in the state.
But the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the planned election is illegal, adding that the matter is in court.
In his reaction, PDP caretaker chairman Dr. Akindele Adekunle said the party would employ every available legal means including mass protest to prevent the election from holding.
His words “For sake of emphasis however, matters concerning conduct of the election are already before competent courts of law and as a law abiding political party, we will rely on the processes enabled by our laws to strengthen the nation’s democracy and enlighten the outgoing APC government to make them come to terms that government activities must not always be premised on crude arrogance and wanton illegality.’’