Gov Abiodun of Ogun State
The Chairman of Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC), Mr. Babatunde Osibodu revealed that the commission is ready to reverse itself on the payment of a non-refundable nomination fee deposit of N200,000 and N100,000 for Chairmanship and Councillorship candidates respectively, in the forthcoming Local Government elections.
Chairman of OGSIEC, Mr. Babatunde Osibodu, who made the disclosure in Abeokuta however insisted that this could only be done if the Commission is furnished with the purported judgment issued several years ago barring it from asking for a non-refundable fee.
Osibodu stated that OGSIEC is operating within the ambit of the law, as it is empowered by it to do so, advising that political parties could come to the Commission for sighting of the law that stipulates payment of the nomination fee.
“Some political parties are making reference to a court judgment barring OGSIEC from asking for the payment of a non-refundable deposit, I learnt the judgment was delivered some 15 years ago, as we speak, nobody has produced the judgment, we are guided by the law and we promise to comply if the judgement is provided.
“OGSIEC is simply following the law; Section 14 of the Ogun State Electoral Law, 2007 stipulates clearly the payment of a nomination fee and we are a law-abiding organisation. The law does not stipulate any amount, it gives OGSIEC the prerogative of how much to charge, we have considered all the circumstances and determined that in this upcoming election, candidates for Chairmanship is N200,000 and for Councilors, it is N100,000 naira”, the Chairman said.
Osibodu who clarified that the personal data form is free, added that only bonafide candidates were expected to pay for the nomination form through their political parties, urging them to comply strictly with the guidelines of the Commission.
The OGSIEC Chairman re-emphasised that the Commission cannot be influenced, reiterating that, “we as a Commission have stated from day one that we will be impartial, fair, transparent, even handed. We are not being tele-guided by anyone. The Commission is made up of people of impeccable character”.
He charged members of the public and political parties not to hesitate to inform the Commission, if they discover discrepancies or shortcomings about anyone seeking to be elected.
