Oyo Council Polls: Governor Makinde Moves To Frustrate Tribunal Processes, Hides Election Materials From AAC Lawyers

The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) in compliance with the directive of the state governor, Seyi Makinde, has denied the lawyer of African Action Congress(AAC) from having access to materials used for the just concluded council elections in the state.

 

In a letter dated May 6, 2023 written by Michael Akinwunmi, Esq of FOLEGAL on behalf of the AAC addressed to the chairman of the State Electoral body, the party had demanded to obtain all the Certified True Copies of all electoral materials used by the commission in the conduct of the councillorship election held on April 27, 2024 in some parts of the state. 

 

The letter reads, “We are Solicitors to the African Action Congress ("our client" and "participant in the April 27 Local Government Council Election") and we write in furtherance of their instruction to us.

 

“We hereby apply for the Certified True Copies of all electoral materials/documents used by the Commission in the conduct of the Councillorship Election held on April 27, 2024 at all polling units in Ward 8 Akinyele Local Government Area, Ward 7 Ibadan North Local Government and Ward 1 Lagelu Local Government of Oyo State. The electoral documents requested include but are not limited to:

 

“1. Statement of Results for each polling unit in the wards and the final result for the wards. 2. Ballot papers/materials. 3. Voters registers. 4. Forms EC8A, EC8A (1), EC8B, EC8(1), EC8C, EC8E and EC8E(1)

 

“We undertake to pay all administrative fees incidental thereto. We are equally hopeful that this modest request will be accorded the urgent attention it demands.”

 

SaharaReporters gathered that commision had refused to surrender the demanded materials to give the AAC legal team enough time for inspection before heading to court to challenge the election results.

 

“They are delaying us intentionally by saying we should come on Friday, when it closes on Saturday,” the lawyer told SaharaReporters.

 

SaharaReporters earlier reported how candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won the chairmanship positions in the 33 local government areas of Oyo State.

 

However, the state chapter of the African Action Congress (AAC) had rejected the results of the election.

The party accused the state electoral body and the PDP of orchestrating “a show of shame and a monumental electoral heist that should not be acknowledged by well-meaning Nigerians”.

 

SaharaReporters reported how Babayomi was arrested and detained by the police on Saturday while monitoring the council election in the state.