Osun LG Election: Exercise Begins With Low Turnout, Boycotts

The Osun State local government election has started as scheduled by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC). 

The Osun State chapter of the All progressive congress (APC) is the only political party that participated in the election.

The ballot papers carried no party symbols or identification but a space to thumbprint ‘YES’ or ‘NO’. 

The voting exercise commenced around 9 am and observations by AllNews Nigeria revealed that the streets were filled with onlookers who stayed at home due to the public holiday and restriction of movement.

A few numbers of voters also came out to exercise their franchise.

The Chairman of OSIEC, Segun Oladitan had on Thursday explained that only one party indicated interest in the poll. 

He however did not mention the name of the political party.

"As of three weeks, only one political party Signified its readiness to contest the election.”

The OSIEC Chairman also added that the election result would be made public at the end of the election on Saturday evening or by the morning of the next day.

Also, the Osun State Chapter of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) has said it would not participate in the local government elections.

Ezekiel Adegboyega, the Osun APM Chairman made the declaration in a statement he signed and made available to journalists in Osogbo on Friday.

“Following the directives given by the National Working Committee of Allied People’s Movement (APM), I want to declare openly that we are not going to participate in tomorrow's local government election in Osun State."

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Peoples Party (APP) are in court challenging OSIEC over the planned Saturday local government elections.

It is on record that the Osun local government election has been a matter of controversy between the Osun chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), OSIEC and other parties.