The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, OSSIEC, has assured all contesting candidates and political parties in the February 22, 2025 local government election that their documents would be properly scrutinised.
The OSSIEC Chairman, Hashim Abioye made this remark during the inauguration of the OSSIEC Verification Committee on Monday in Osogbo.
Abioye during the inauguration said that an 18-member committee, headed by Abdul-lateef Olayanju would verify certificates and other documents of contestants participating in the forthcoming local government elections in the state.
The OSSIEC chairman, while expressing confidence in the capacity of the committee to deliver on its mandate, said the high-level body had in it people of high moral integrity who had served and were still serving the country in various capacities.
He also said the report of the exercise would be made public.
In his words, “This is a high-level committee populated by people of high integrity who have served and/or are still serving their country in various capacities. They are seasoned professionals and technocrats; they are people of conscience and high repute.
“They are to look into the documents and the papers submitted by political parties and their candidates for the election. They are to look at age compliance, academic qualification compliance and tax compliance of the candidates.
“I want to believe that at the end of the day, the committee will submit their reports, which shall be made public by the grace of God. With this, the confidence of the public in the integrity of the process being embarked upon by the commission will be guaranteed. The committee’s work commences immediately,” Abioye said.
He added that for the first time in the commission’s history, external bodies were being invited to participate and get involved actively in OSSIEC’s activities, assuring that transparency would remain the watchword of the agency.
DAILY POST had reported that the state electoral umpire had fixed Saturday, February 22, 2025, for the next local government elections in the state.
Also, 18 political parties, including the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the main opposition, All Progressives Congress, APC, have signified interest to participate in the polls.
