The Chairman of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju SAN has said that no fewer than 17 political parties will be participating in tomorrow’s Saturday 22nd May 2021 Local Government Elections across the State.
He made this known during a press conference at the OYSIEC Headquarters located at Agodi Ibadan the Capital City of Oyo State on Friday.
He added that no electorate will be harass, intimidated and embarrassed by any security operatives while performing their legitimate rights.
He said, “I’m urging you all to go out and cast your votes for your preferred candidates without any fear of harassment, embarrassment or intimidated by any security operatives.
“We have visited all the necessary stakeholders and with the support we got from the security operatives who are on ground to monitor the whole exercises towards ensuring that its free, fair and credible.
“As I speak now some of the needed sensitive materials have been deployed to various locations across the State. In fact, they are on their way to their different locations, the materials have to leave Ibadan today so they can be in their various expected locations as earlier as possible, to ensure that the elections exercises start as earlier as possible and with the help of the Police and other security operatives that escorted those materials and our staff I believe all is now set for free, fair and credible elections.
“We are not in support of any political parties, we are going to make sure that each and every vote counts, we are to see that your vote counts; the votes of every citizen in Oyo State will surely count. We are going to provide very credible, free and fair elections.
“By this time of tomorrow election results will have been coming in batches, as we have nothing to hide, you can go to our online platforms like OYSIECTV online for the latest update as regards the elections, I promised we will not disappoint you.
Also in his assertion the State Police image maker, Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP. Adewale Osifeso said over 9,000 Police operatives have been deployed to monitor the elections exercises to ensure it is safe, free, fair and credible.
He also said the police are deployed to maintain law and order during, and after the poll and not to harass, nor intimidate any lawful electorates who are expected to go out and perform their civic duties.