Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) says 12 registered political parties have been cleared to contest chairmanship and counsellorship positions in the May 12 council polls in Oyo State.
The OYSIEC Chairman, Mr John Ajeigbe said in Ibadan on Thursday that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Accord Party, were, however, not among parties that would participate.
Ajeigbe said the participating political parties were: Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), National Rescue Movement (NRM) and Young Progressive Party (YPP).
Others were People for Democratic Change (PDC), Kowa Party (KP), African Peoples Alliance (APA), Justice Must Prevail Party (JMPP) and All Progressives Congress (APC).
The others were Action Democratic Party (ADP), United Democratic Party (UDP), Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) and Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN).
He said candidates from cleared political parties were expected to contest the 68 chairmanship positions both at the 33 local governments and 35 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
He added that counsellorship positions in all the wards would be contested for during the May 12 polls.
The OYSIEC boss disclosed that elections would be conducted in 4,783 polling units across the state.
He enjoined eligible voters in the state to exercise their civic duty on the election date, saying their participation would give them the opportunity to elect credible candidates.
He said the electoral body was ready to conduct transparent, free, fair and credible elections.
On the number of ad hoc staff for the election, Ajeigbe said recruitment was ongoing but gave assurance that every recruited ad hoc staff would be trained before the election date.
He urged the participating political parties to prioritise use of party agents in every polling units on the election day to make it more transparent.
On security, the chairman said the commission was in close contact with heads of security agents in the state for the smooth conduct of the polls through protection of lives and election materials.
He sought the cooperation of stakeholders for the success of the council polls.
The two political parties that are not participating in the election — Accord Party and PDP — say they will not want to be part of it.
The scribes of the parties, Mr Paul Igbinsola (Accord Party) and Mr Wasiu Emiola (PDP) described the forthcoming council poll as ”arranged”.
Igbinsola said the party feared that election would not be fair, while Wasiu said PDP predicted that the outcome of the election would not reflect the wishes of the electorate. (NAN)
