…as Assembly screens 8-member board of electoral commission
Soji Ajibola,Ibadan
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has forwarded the names of persons proposed as members of the board of the State Independent Electoral Commission to the House of Assembly ahead of the conduct of election in all the local government areas and development authorities.
The eight-member Board has Mr. Isiaka Olagunju as Chairman while Comrade Adeniyi Afeez Babatunde, Alhaja Ganiyat Saka, Mr Olanrewaju Emmanuel, Chief Kunle Agboola, Mr Remi Ayoade, Mr Sunday Falana and Mr Adeojo Elias are members.
In the letter announcing the composition of the board by the governor, which was read at Tuesday’s plenary by the Speaker, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin, Makinde said, ”The board members are eminently qualified to be appointed as members of OYSIEC to oversee and conduct elections into our local government areas based on their track records”.
The Speaker said the board of OYSIEC should have been constituted before now but for the court cases instituted by the sacked local government chairmen in the state.
He expressed happiness that the conduct of local government elections in the state would further help to bring dividends of democracy to the people.
Ogundoyin said, “I am happy that the Oyo State governor has forwarded the list of OYSIEC members for screening and confirmation to us in the house. I have no doubt that when the board is constitued it will conduct credible local government elections devoid of any rancour, violence and malpractice.
“The step taken by the governor shows that he might be set to conduct elections into the thirty-three local government areas in the state.”