The Chairman of the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission, Mr Babatunde Osibodu says the commission will engage no fewer than 10,000 as hoc staff in the forthcoming local government election in the State.
He disclosed this in Abeokuta, the state capital while fielding questions from journalists.
Osibodu also said the commission would not compromise its integrity even as it dissociated itself from the timetable released on social media some few weeks ago, describing it as fake.
He said, “We shall be engaging the services of more than 10,000 ad hoc staff for the forth coming Local Government elections in Ogun State who will serve as Electoral Officers, Presiding Officers and Poll Officers, among others. This is in our drive to make the process seamless and free of hitches.”
Osibodu added that, interested persons should keep monitoring the media, as the commission “will soon come up with the method of application through its website.”
He explained that the Commission was not involved in the expansion of polling Units, Continuous Voter Registration, stating that such power resides only with the Independent National Electoral Commission and the National Assembly “is expected to give legislative backing to the polling units expansion.”
The OGSIEC boss said members of the commission were people of impeccable character, whose integrity would reflect in the conduct of the council polls, assuring that the outcome would be a true reflection of the wishes of the people.
He said, “I want to once again assure the good people of Ogun State that our firm resolve to organise a council poll that will be totally devoid of any form of manipulation or interference cannot be overemphasized.
“Our motivation for taking this task is service to Ogun State and to contribute our quota in deepening the democratic values in Ogun and Nigeria.
“The Commission is made of people of integrity, who had for decades, proven their mettle across different strata of human endeavours. We are also following the law and due process and this we will hold very dearly in the course of the forthcoming Local Government elections in Ogun State.
Denouncing the fake timetable that was on the social media few weeks ago, he advised the electorate and general public to be wary of content from the social media, arguing that any “information that emanates from the Commission will be communicated through the appropriate means involving journalists.”
“We will not be distracted in our poised to deliver credible election. We work with our timing and the provisions of the law. Whatever do not emanate from us should be totally disregard, the OGSIEC boss stated.
On the actual days of notification of election, the Chairman revealed that the 90 days duration popularly held in some quarters was exclusive to the Independent National Electoral Commission, adding that the Ogun State Electoral Law, 2007 “stipulates not less than 30 days notice of election but the Commission extended it to 85 days.”
Osibodu said “the Commission is empowered by the Ogun State Electoral Law, 2007 to prescribe a non- refundable deposit from aspirants, who have scaled the primaries,” he however reiterated that the reason for giving female aspirants waivers was to encourage women participation in politics and provide level- playing ground.
Osibodu who said the number of political parties participating in the Local Government elections would be determined after the various primaries, appealed to them to be guided by the rules, as “OGSIEC will monitor all party primaries.”
He declared that “only parties can obtain forms for qualified candidates and not individuals.”
