In a dramatic turn of events, sixteen opposition political parties in Osun State have announced their withdrawal from the forthcoming local government election scheduled for February 22, 2025.
This decision comes amidst a flurry of accusations against the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) and its chairman, Mr. Hashim Abioye.
Addressing journalists in Osogbo on Monday, Mr. Victor Akande, the Osun State chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee, voiced the opposition parties’ grievances.
Akande accused Abioye of withholding crucial information about the election and alleged that the OSSIEC chairman planned to use members of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as electoral officers.
“We have reliably gathered that Abioye has perfected plans to use PDP members as Electoral Officers during the election, which we all know what it means,” Akande stated.
“His intention is to trap us into conducting our parties’ primary elections without disclosing the amount each party will pay, which will, of course, lead to efforts in futility after announcing an exorbitant fee.”
Akande further criticized the lack of transparency from OSSIEC, comparing it unfavorably to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“We expected up-to-date information from Abioye to be done by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but the reverse is the case as we always have information about Osun local government election from PDP e-rats,” he said.
The opposition parties’ withdrawal from the election includes notable groups such as the Action Alliance, African Democratic Congress, Accord Party, Social Democratic Party, and several others.
Akande expressed concerns about the PDP-led administration creating a hostile environment to deter voters.
“It is on these notes that we resolved, after deliberations with our parties’ members, to BACK OUT of the forthcoming local government election in Osun state,” he declared.
In response to these serious allegations, Abioye dismissed the claims, explaining that the process of appointing electoral officers and deciding nomination fees was still underway.
“We are at the verge of appointing electoral officers and assistant electoral officers, we have not even drawn the list,” Abioye clarified.
He emphasized that no nomination fees had been set yet and that consultations with political parties were ongoing.
“It is unfortunate. I have only announced our intention as part of the preparatory arrangement towards the conduct of the election,” Abioye stated.
“We will consult with them, but not that any political party will nominate names for us to appoint as electoral officers and assistant electoral officers. So, I don’t know where the allegation is coming from.”
As the political landscape in Osun State heats up, the withdrawal of these sixteen opposition parties casts a shadow over the upcoming local government elections, raising questions about the transparency and fairness of the process.