The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) initiated the screening exercise for political parties’ candidates in preparation for the Local Government Council Elections on April 27, 2024.
Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju, SAN, the Chairman of OYSIEC, emphasized the importance of this screening process, designed to identify candidates from registered political parties running for chairmanship and councillorship positions.
Olagunju ensured that OYSIEC had made arrangements to maintain a level playing field for all political parties and their candidates. The screening schedule is based on the number of candidates presented by each party, with those presenting the fewest candidates taking priority.
The relationship between OYSIEC and political parties was described as excellent, with 18 registered political parties participating in the screening process. Olagunju mentioned that the screening would continue until November 10, 2023, with a systematic approach to accommodate all parties.
Chairman of the Screening Committee, Chief Kunmi Agboola, stressed the significance of physically screening candidates to verify their qualifications and to prevent ghost candidates from participating.
Following the screening, Chairmanship Candidate for the Young Progressive Party, Comrade Tunde Ogunniyi, and Councillorship Candidate for the African Action Congress, Solomon Emiola, confirmed that the process aligned with the documents submitted and their presented credentials.
OYSIEC is committed to ensuring a transparent and fair election process for the upcoming Local Government Council Elections, fostering cooperation between the commission and political parties to achieve a common goal.
