The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Osun State has expressed doubt about the ability of Hashim Abioye, the chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), to conduct a fair and transparent local government election. Wale Adebayo, the APM Chairman in Osogbo, Osun, pointed out the clear conflict of interest as Abioye is a member of the ruling party. Adebayo emphasized that this situation raises concerns about the commission’s impartiality and fairness, indicating a conflict of interest.
Given Abioye’s previous affiliation with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his subsequent appointment to head the commission, APM declared a lack of confidence in his capacity to ensure a free, fair, and credible election. Adebayo, a former chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in the state, stressed that the head of the electoral body should be apolitical and unbiased.
APM demanded the replacement of the current chairman with someone who is neutral, emphasizing that Abioye is not suitable to lead the commission and guarantee a truly fair and transparent election. It is essential to ensure credible elections by appointing a non-partisan individual to lead the commission. Abioye’s announcement of the local government election on February 22, 2023, has raised further concerns about the commission’s capability to oversee an impartial electoral process.
