Candidates of the Labour Party (LP) for the upcoming Osun State local government election have called on the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) to postpone the poll, citing unresolved legal disputes and logistical issues.
Speaking at a press conference in Osogbo on Friday, the Labour Party Chairmanship candidate for Osogbo local government, Barrister Jimoh Oyebode, alongside LP State Chairman, Comrade Bello Adebayo, expressed disappointment over OSIEC’s handling of the election preparations.
“The electoral body has refused to provide us with essential materials needed for the election. We have been at their office since yesterday to collect identification tags for our party agents, yet as of 4 PM on Friday, we have received nothing,” Oyebode lamented.
The Labour Party, which is fielding three chairmanship candidates and 18 councillorship candidates across five local government areas, raised concerns about the security of voters, referencing recent tensions at local government secretariats across the state.
“It is crucial that the security of our people is guaranteed before calling them out to vote. The recent unrest at council secretariats poses a serious risk, and OSIEC should postpone the election until the crisis is resolved,” Oyebode added.
Comrade Bello Adebayo also criticized OSIEC’s lack of preparedness, noting that the non-availability of election materials and staff raises serious concerns about the credibility of the process.
The Labour Party insists that unless these issues are addressed, the election should not proceed as scheduled.
