By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo

Labour Party (LP) candidates in Osun State have withdrawn from the forthcoming local government elections scheduled for Saturday, citing security concerns and unresolved legal issues.

The candidates have called for a postponement of the election by two to three months, stressing the need to prioritise public safety.

Speaking at the Correspondents’ Chapel in Osogbo, the leader of the Labour Party Candidates’ Forum and a contestant, Mr Bode Babalola, highlighted the precarious security situation, calling on the state government and the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to delay the polls until all legal disputes are addressed.

“We are calling for the postponement of the election. We visited the OSSIEC office, but no officials were present, and security personnel were heavily deployed. From all indications, there are clear signs that holding the election under these conditions could lead to unforeseen incidents,” Babalola stated.

He clarified that the Labour Party was not withdrawing from the election entirely but was only advocating for a postponement to ensure a fair and peaceful electoral process.

Echoing this position, the Osun State Labour Party Chairman, Prince Adebayo Bello, reinforced that the call for a postponement was in the best interest of peace and security in the state.

Bello revealed that the party had already spent over five million naira on nomination forms for three chairmanship and 18 councillorship candidates. However, he maintained that postponing the election was necessary to allow all stakeholders to resolve outstanding issues.

“The prevailing circumstances suggest an urgent need to put the election on hold. Rescheduling it to a later date will provide an opportunity for all parties to resolve pending disputes and ensure a more transparent and peaceful process,” Bello concluded.

The Labour Party’s stance adds to the growing concerns surrounding the conduct of the local government elections, with stakeholders questioning the viability of proceeding under the current security conditions.

Reports indicate that OSSIEC officials have become incommunicado, while security personnel remain on high alert. Military operatives have been stationed at strategic locations, and police patrols have been intensified across the state.

In response to the heightened tensions, Governor Ademola Adeleke has ordered a restriction of vehicular movement from 5 am to 5 pm on Saturday, 22nd February 2022, across Osun State.

A statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, reiterated Adeleke’s commitment to maintaining peace, emphasising that the restriction aims to prevent the influx of hoodlums into the state during the elections.

He directed security agencies to enforce the movement restriction, allowing only voters, accredited media, and civil society organisations to operate freely for the sake of peace and security in Osun State.