OGSIEC recognises Obasanjo faction’s list for council election

The Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission on Tuesday said it would recognise only the list of candidates for the forthcoming local government elections submitted by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state believed to be loyal to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

OGSIEC’s position was, however, in defiance of Wednesday last week’s ruling of a state High Court in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government, which ordered that only the state Executive Committee of the Ogun PDP, led by Chief Bayo Dayo, had the authority to nominate and submit the list of candidates for the July 21 council election in the state.

Chairman of OGSIEC Screening Committee, Mr. Mutiu Agboke, who is also a commissioner of the electoral body, said at a press conference in Abeokuta on Tuesday that the commission sought clarification from the PDP national headquarters on which of the factions should be accorded recognition for the purpose of the July 21 council poll before reaching the decision.

Agboke said the commission had therefore rejected the list of candidates forwarded to it by the Dayo-led faction of the Ogun PDP.

Citing section 221 of 1999 Constitution, as well as Section 5 (M) of the 2012 Ogun election guidelines, he explained that the commission’s activities were guided by the sanctity of the constitution which mandated OGSIEC to deal with political parties, and not individual or group of persons.

Agboke further said the commission received a letter from the national headquarters of the PDP which though recognised factions in Ogun PDP, instructed OGSIEC to recognise only the caretaker committee set up under the chairmanship of Mr. Ireti Oniyide in the state.

In the letter dated June 26, 2012 obtained by our correspondent, Oyinlola stated, “As you are aware, the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos has by its recent ruling in Suit No. CA/L/-38/2012 granted a stay of proceeding in a matter brought before it by some people opposed to the decision of the National Working Committee of the peoples Democratic Party to endorse candidates fielded for the forthcoming local government elections in Ogun State.

“Following the development, the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission is hereby requested by Ogun State Caretaker Committee under the Chairman of Chief Ireti Oniyide for the purpose of enabling PDP candidates validly recognised by the PDP National Working Committee to participate in the forthcoming local government elections in the state.

“We also enjoin you to also deal with the said Committee for all issues pertaining to Ogun State PDP.”

Agboke therefore said, “For anybody to be a candidate, such person should have been nominated by his political party. The Commission cannot exclude any political party. The Commission sought clearance from the national headquarters of the party on which of the factions should be recognised.”