Osun LG Election: Lawyer Gives OSIEC Boss 7-Day Ultimatum To Declare How Much Was Received, How The Money Was Expended

The last is yet to be heard about the January 27th, 2018 Parliamentary Local Government (LG) election conducted in Osun State, as a human right activist lawyer, Barrister Kanmi Ajibola has requested for full information about the money released by the state government for the exercise.

OSIEC Chairman, Mr Segun Oladitan

Ajibola in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), Mr. Segun Oladuntan and dated 29th January gave a seven-day ultimatum to the commission to supply him with how much was received and how the money was expended.

According to him, as an indigene of the state who hailed from Ikeji-Arakeji in Oriade Local Government, he and the public deserve to know how much was spent on the polls in just 71 out of 389 wards of the state.

Parts of the letter reads: “I am writing to you in respect of the just concluded Local Government Election in Osun State in your capacity as the chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission.

“Notwithstanding the pendency of the Court matter raising issues on the election, you went ahead to conduct the election.

“As a public officer serving in a Commission created by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, you are expected to be law abiding.

“By the provision of the law, every interested citizen of Osun State has the right to make a request from you and your commission information about the amount of money gotten from the Osun State Government and spent on the LG Election conducted on the 27th day of January 2018.

“Also, by the placement of the constitutional duty, every citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall “Make positive and useful contribution to the advancement, progress and well-being of the community where he resides.”

In the light of the two legal positions above referred, Ajibola said he made a request full information about the amount of money received full information about the budget breakdown of what the money was spent on.

“On a special demand, having conducted the LG election during the pendency of the suit in law court challenging you and your commission to so act, I give you and your commission seven (7) days to refund all the money expended on the election back to the Osun State Government account with proof of payment.

“Ajibola threatened that if by the 10th of February 2018, the OSSIEC Chairman failed to comply with his request, he will “press for it in the Court of Law”.