OSIEC seeks voter turnout for upcoming LG poll

From Michael Ofulue, Osogbo
With the Osun State Local Government Election approaching, the Chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), Hashim Abioye, has urged voters to remain engaged in the electoral process and exercise their franchise.
Speaking at The Frontliners programme, organised by the League of Veteran Journalists in Osogbo on Wednesday, Abioye expressed concern over the tendency of some political parties to withdraw from elections without justification.
He warned that such actions only serve to strengthen the ruling party’s grip on council seats and criticised election boycotts as detrimental to democratic progress.
He further condemned the trend of politicians dissuading the electorate from participating in elections, describing it as a disservice to societal development.
According to him, certain disgruntled politicians habitually move from place to place before elections, discouraging people from voting without any justifiable reason.
Encouraging Osun voters to turn out for the local government election scheduled for February 22, 2025, Abioye emphasised that the polls would be conducted across all 30 constitutionally recognised council areas of the state.
A lawyer by profession, Abioye reiterated that voting is a fundamental right rather than a privilege and called on eligible voters to take an active role in shaping the democratic process.