Ogun LG Polls Hold 21 July

Apparently responding to the threat by some opposition parties in Ogun State to take legal action against the state government if it fails to conduct the local government election within 60 days, the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission, OGSIEC, has released the timetable for the exercise.

PMNews learnt that the local government election in the gateway state has now been fixed for Saturday, 21 July, 2012.

Confirming this to our correspondent this morning, the ACN Public Relations Officer (PRO) in the state, Mr Dare Adekoya debunked the rumour that it might later be postponed.

According to Adekoya, ”the local government elections will be held in Ogun State by 21 July, 2012. The OGSIEC has released the timetable for the election and there is no truth in the rumour that the government might postpone the elections.”

The party spokesman also debunked the allegation that the government quickly swung into action after the threat from opposition parties in the state.

He said: “It is not true that the statement credited to the opposition parties made the government to put final touches to the arrangement. It is unfortunate that some people would still be acting on rumour or propaganda all in their efforts to pull down the government. The OGSIEC is in charge of conducting the elections and the body had been set up by the government and they are perfecting plans to ensure a level playing ground for all political parties in the state. This they have assured us and our party. ACN is also promising all political parties of a level playing field in the forthcoming elections in the state.”

A source told our correspondent on phone this morning that the government might postpone the election till August, saying; ”With what we are still gathering, it seems that the government may still postpone the elections in July, on the excuse that Muslims are fasting then. Let us wait and see.”

Meanwhile, Governor Ibikunle Amosun will tomorrow commence his tour of all the 20 local government areas of the state.

According to information gathered by our correspondent in Abeokuta, the first port of call during the tour will be Ogun Waterside and Ijebu East local government areas.

“The train will be moving to Sagamu and Ikenne local government areas on Wednesday and later move to Imeko Afon and Yewa North local government areas. It will then continue next week,” the source revealed.

The governor has said that one of the reasons for the tour is to look at the projects being executed by the local government caretaker chairmen and ascertain the level they have gone in ensuring that dividends of democracy get to all parts of the state.

—Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta