The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has accused the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) of deliberately undermining opposition parties in the upcoming local government elections, scheduled for February 22, 2025.
This accusation follows claims by the commission, led by Hashim Abioye, that the nomination processes of several political parties were improper. The APC asserts that these claims jeopardize their candidates’ chances in the election.
According to a report presented by Abioye to journalists in Osogbo on Wednesday, nearly all of the 18 political parties that nominated candidates committed various infractions. He noted that the affected parties included the APC, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and the Action Peoples Party (APP). Abioye indicated that these parties failed to properly nominate candidates for chairmanship positions in seven local government areas.
In a statement issued Friday, APC Chairman Tajudeen Lawal expressed concerns regarding OSSIEC’s management of the nomination process for local government positions. He highlighted that OSSIEC had issued a 48-hour ultimatum for parties to rectify alleged infractions in nine local government areas, including Atakumosa-West and Ede-South.
Lawal claimed that despite the party’s efforts to comply, OSSIEC’s offices unexpectedly closed at 2:15 PM on September 19, 2024, hindering the submission of necessary documents. He stated that attempts to reach OSSIEC officials for assistance were unsuccessful.
The APC chairman alleged that the irregularities flagged by OSSIEC stemmed from the commission’s own administrative shortcomings. He criticized the commission for hastily releasing information without thorough fact-checking and noted the absence of a Public Relations Officer, which he argued left Abioye to manage all administrative tasks.
Lawal raised questions about OSSIEC’s impartiality, citing Abioye’s previous affiliation with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his past candidacy for a PDP seat in the Ifelodun State Constituency in 2023. The APC has also challenged Abioye’s appointment in court due to perceived conflicts of interest.
Lawal expressed disbelief that OSSIEC would close its offices early after issuing a 48-hour window for corrections. He contended that the commission’s actions appear designed to hinder APC participation in the election.
The chairman also criticized OSSIEC for delays in releasing election guidelines, noting that the APC’s repeated requests for certified copies had been ignored. In one instance, he said, OSSIEC failed to acknowledge a formal request sent via courier.
“The actions of OSSIEC under Barrister Hashim Abioye cast serious doubt on the commission’s ability to conduct free, fair, and credible elections,” Lawal stated.
He warned that the APC would utilize all constitutionally acceptable measures to protect its candidates from perceived biases. “We are committed to ensuring our candidates are not victimized by an electoral body that does not act independently,” he added.
