OYSIEC RELEASE

The attention of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission has been drawn to a news item of an interim order by the Federal High Court in Ibadan said to have stopped the scheduled Local Council elections fixed for 12th May 2018. While we are yet to be formally served with any such order. Our information confirms that the said court’s order did not stop the scheduled elections and was only directed at using the newly delineated wards for the scheduled elections by OYSIEC. Elections are therefore not, restrained from proceeding as scheduled in all the local governments and LCDAs. Meanwhile it should be noted that the extant provisions of section 9(1) of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission law, cap 154, Laws of Oyo State 2000 which states that “no interim, interlocutory or any other order, decision or judgment by any court or tribunal before or after the commencement of this law in respect of any intra-party, or inter party dispute, or any other proceedings  or matter pertaining to an election under this law, shall affect the timing of an election  under this law”. This extant law remains valid and binding on us all.