Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) has clarified that the N250,000 administrative fee for the upcoming 2024 local government elections is directed at political parties, not individual candidates.
During a stakeholder meeting, OGSIEC announced that this fee is required from political parties fielding chairmanship candidates. Male councillorship candidates will need to pay N150,000, while female candidates will pay N100,000 for the elections scheduled for November 16, 2024.
The fee has generated controversy, with several political parties criticizing it as excessive. However, OGSIEC Chairman Babatunde Osibodu explained in a radio interview in Abeokuta that the charges are intended to be paid by the parties as a whole. He stated that this approach is designed to increase party involvement and commitment.
Osibodu emphasized that the fee is legally justified, having been reviewed and approved by legal experts and the State House of Assembly. He addressed concerns from Itunu Abioro, Public Relations Officer of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Ogun State, by asserting that the Commission has the authority to set its own electoral guidelines.
He assured that the release of the election timetable and guidelines marks the beginning of the electoral process and promised further consultations with political parties and stakeholders.
Osibodu reiterated OGSIEC’s dedication to a fair and credible election and stressed the importance of party participation, warning that opting out would mean forfeiting any opportunity to influence the election’s outcome.
