Ogun Sets New Date for LG Elections, Blames covid-19 pandemic for Delay
The Ogun State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Afolabi Afuape has disclosed that, elections into local government offices may not take place until the middle of next year.
Afuape disclosed this on Tuesday at the foundation laying ceremony of Primary Health Centre, Oke-Egunya, Ago-Oba in Abeokuta.
The Commissioner who represented the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun at the event noted that, the covid-19 pandemic and EndSARS protests which crippled business and economic activities prevented the state government from conducting the council election this year.
He maintained that, the council election will not take place until the electoral body, Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) is formally inaugurated.
He added that, the electoral commission which may likely be inaugurated in few weeks time, will need about six months to conduct a credible election.
“Everybody will agree with me that, Year 2020 is full of crisis from Covid-19 to EndSARS protest. We are now in November and Covid-19 began in February – March couple with EndSARS protests in October. With these crisis how will any reasonable government will be thinking of local government elections now.
“Let me tell you, If we should set up OGSIEC today, it will take about six months to get the election done because they will need about three months to settle down and another three months notification to the political parties.
“It is not too convenient for us, but definitely we will conduct the election. We are not happy the election has not taken place, but we have to consider the financial resources because it requires about money. But today I’m thinking it may not be less than another six months.”
