LG chair candidates to pay N250,000, says Ogun electoral body

The Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission has announced that each chairmanship candidate presented by political parties for the local government elections scheduled for November 16, 2024 will be required to pay administrative charges of N250,000.

The electoral body also stated that male councillorship candidates will be charged N150,000, while female candidates will pay N100,000.

The commission explained that the reduced fee for female councillorship candidates is intended to encourage women’s participation in politics by lowering barriers.

The commission’s chairman, Mr Babatunde Osibodu, disclosed this on Thursday during a stakeholders’ meeting and the unveiling of the guidelines for the 2024 Local Government Elections, held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta.

Osibodu, represented by Mr Olatunji Akoni, Commissioner of the Electoral Commission, emphasised that people are central to the electoral process and play a crucial role in elections, so they must be adequately informed and involved for the process to succeed.

The OGSIEC chairman explained that the meeting aimed to build confidence among participants, including political parties, associations, and religious and community leaders. He added that the commission’s goal is to organise an election that will be free, fair, and credible, setting a benchmark in the state’s electoral history.

Osibodu said, “The elections are scheduled for Saturday, November 16, 2024, from 8am to 2pm.

“At OGSIEC, we are committed to gender sensitivity and actively advocate for female participation in the democratic process.

“The commission has therefore set the administrative charges for the political parties presenting candidates at the elections: N250,000 per chairmanship candidate, N150,000 per male councillorship candidate, and N100,000 per female councillorship candidate.”

He explained that this approach aims to lower the barriers for women to participate in local governance and ensure they have fair and equitable opportunities.
He assured that the upcoming election would genuinely reflect the wishes and aspirations of the grassroots population.

In his contribution, the state chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Mr Yinka Williams, urged OGSIEC to take all necessary steps to convince political parties that the election will be free and fair.

“There should be voter registration, which is crucial to this election,” Williams demanded.

Representatives of security agencies, traditional rulers, political parties, and other stakeholders were present at the meeting.