The Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Mr Kayode Akinmade, on Sunday, described as fake news a statement circulating on social media announcing that the next local government elections in the state will hold on October 26, 2024.
The present elected local government officials were elected on July 24, 2021, sworn in on July 26, 2021, and so should be completing their three-year tenure by Friday, July 26.
The recent Supreme Court judgment barred the usual practice of appointing a caretaker committee by the state governors to run the affairs of the local government.
The apex court has equally insisted on having a democratically elected government at the local government and that a local government without a democratically elected government won’t be able to have access to the monthly allocation from the Federal Government.
Meanwhile, the statement said to have been signed by the Chairman of Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission, Babatunde Osibodu, but dated Wednesday, July 24 disclosed that the next local government elections will be held on October 24 by 8 am
The statement titled “Notice Of the Year 2024 Local Government Elections In Ogun State” partly reads “In consonance with Section 10(1) Ogun State Electoral Law 2007, the general public is hereby informed that elections into the offices of Chairmen of the Twenty (20) Local Governments and Councillors of the 236 Wards of Ogun State will be conducted on Saturday, 26th October 2024 between 8.00 am and 2.00 pm.
“Prospective candidates are expected to obtain Nomination Forms in respect of the Elections into Local Government Councils from the Electoral Officers at all Local Government Areas not later than Tuesday, 20th August, 2024.”
The statement further highlighted that July 24th 2024 is “for publication of notice of election and release of Election Timetable, Thursday 25th July 2024 is for release of election guidelines, stakeholders meeting and commencement of campaign by political parties
“Thursday 1st August – Thursday 15th August 2024 is scheduled for the conduct of party primaries, Friday 16th – Tuesday 20th August 2024 is for collection of personal data forms by the political parties for the Candidates among others.”
Akinmade, when contacted on Sunday by our correspondent said the purported statement from OGSIEC is “fake news”.
Efforts to speak to the Chairman of OGSIEC, also proved abortive as messages sent to his WhatsApp were yet to be returned as of the time of filing this report while calls to his phone were also unanswered.
An impeccable source within the party however said that the statement is real and was only leaked to the public before Wednesday, July 24, due date.
The source said, “The truth is that the statement is real, it was only leaked to the public before the due date which is July 24. I am very sure of what I just told you.”Ogun govt says 2024 LG elections notice is fake news.
