LG Polls: An Acid-Test For OSSIEC – Osun Accord Party Chairman

By Shina Abubakar

The Chairman of the Accord Party in the State of Osun, Mr. Segun Fanibe has disclosed that Saturday’s local government election in the state would make or mar the reputation of the State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC).

He disclosed this in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER on the party’s preparedness for Saturday’s local government election across the state.

He said the party does not have any confidence in the state electoral body to organise a free and fair poll because it has not hold any such election in the past and there is nothing to hold as a qualitative measure of their ability to do a good job.

Fanibe disclosed that Accord hopes that OSSIEC would prove to be independent and organise a free and fair poll so that the populace, especially stakeholders would begin to have trust in it, as well as attest to the credibility of the election.

“OSSIEC has never organised any election in the past and you cannot just put any trust in such a body to be free and fair or even independent but this Saturday would go a long way to prove whether the body has credibility or it is just organising a charade.

“As you can see most of the populace are not even aware of the local government polls for this Saturday, which is part of the responsibility of OSSIEC to enlighten the people but as a party we on our own have been going round to mobilise people and also go on mass media to alert them of their responsibilities. But we would be waiting to see the organisation and the outcome of the polls to measure the credibility of the body”, he added.

Speaking on the litigation before the Federal High Court in Abuja which was pending during this chat, he disclosed that the party believed in the rule of law and whichever way the decision of the court goes, the party would abide by the decision, but added that it would no longer be forced to stay away from any election in the state.

According to him, the party has 59 candidates for the election and is hopeful that if the election is free and fair and allow the will of the people take priority, all its candidate would return elected.

“Accord party is fielding 59 candidates across the state and we are working hard to return all of the candidates because we rely on the electorates to decide their fate and not on the power of incumbency and we are hopeful we will triumph”, he added.