The Osun Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) has revealed that a total of eighteen political parties have registered to partake in the forthcoming local government area election in the state.
The disclosure as made by Hashim Abioye , the chairman of OSIEC, while speaking at a three-day retreat at Regina Hotel and Suites, Osogbo on Thursday.
While disclosing that the 18 political parties, for the first time, would be participating in the poll slated to hold in February next year, he said the commission had received nominations from the parties and is verifying the credentials of the received nominations.
The OSIEC chairman said, “I am glad to inform you that for the first time in the history of this commission, all 18 registered political parties in Osun State are participating and have all submitted nominations.
“We are very much prepared. And you can see that we gave notice of elections in February 2024, February this year, even before the matter at the Supreme Court judgement was conceived.
“We have passed the nomination stage, we are at the verification stage, we are expecting the report of the verification committee and anytime now, we will publish the names of clear candidates. So, we are moving.
“So, Osun State Independent Electoral Commission is not one of those commissions that are rushing to conduct local government elections. And if you look at the outline and the schedule of activities as contained in the timetable which we published, you will see that we are following the steps as outlined one after the other.”