Chairmanship Candidates of political parties seeking to contest the July 24 Local Governments elections in Ogun State are to pay non-refundable deposit of N200, 000, for the nomination forms for the poll
Also Councillorship candidates are to part with N100,000 non-refundable deposit, to pick the nomination forms to participate in the excercise while female candidates will pick the forms free of charge at the Headquarters of the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) in Oke-Ilewo Ibara area of Abeokuta,behind Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
The Commission's Chairman, Mr. Babatunde Osibodu announced the non-refundable deposit on Tuesday at a news conference and stakeholders meeting, to formally release the notice of holding the councils'poll and guidelines for the conduct of the excercise
According to Osibodu,"The electoral law 2007, provide for payment of non-refundable deposit by intending candidates for the Chairmanship, this fee has been set as N200,000 while for Councillorship candidates, it is N100,000, As as gender sensitive Institution, we wish to encourage female candidature, for avoidance of doubt, this means that female will not be required to make any deposits
Osibodu who announcing the lifting of embargo on campaign by aspirants and political parties,in line with fresh time table for the councils poll which must end by midnight of Thursday 22nd July , says "political parties have 22days within which they are to hold their primaries between Wednesday 5th May and 27th May, to present candidates for the elections"
The OGSIEC boss who urged political parties to adhere strictly to the time-table, assured them of credible and most transparent in the history of local governments election in the state and Nigeria, warning the youths against allowing themselves to be used as an instrument of violence, to avoid being dealt with by security Operatives
His words," We have resolved to conduct election that will not just been seen as free, fair and credible but the one that remains a bench mark in the annals of the history of election in Ogun State and Nigeria, we shall certainly do"
Osibodu explained that OGSIEC had demonstrated it fairness to the political parties by issuing a notice for the conduct of the poll, 85days to the exercise and not 30days as provided for in the 2007 Electoral Law of the state
He called for the support of the media in ensuring a credible councils'poll saying that "the media must not allow themselves to be used by few that may want to twist the facts and bend the truth for their parochial interest "
Meanwhile the major opposition party, People's Democratic Party (PDP) has called for fresh stakeholders meeting, accusing the electoral agency of not properly invited for the meeting
The State Chairman of the party, Dr.Sikirulai Ogundele made the call while speaking on the sideline of the stakeholders meeting in Abeokuta
He urged the Chairman and other Commissioners not to allow their integrity to be rubbished by the ruling All Progressives Congress,by ensuring transparency in the conduct of the poll
Ogundele who arrived the June 12 Cultural Centre venue of the event, however assured the electorates that PDP would contest every seat at the poll, as a credible alternative to APC in the state
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