INEC Clears Seven For Oyo By-Election

By Akin Durodola, Gbenga Olumide and Olusola Sanni - 26.01.2006

All seems set for Saturday’s (today) election into the Akinyele/Lagelu federal House of Representatives, as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Oyo State Police Command, on Friday, confirmed readiness for the election.

Likewise, all the political parties contesting the election were, as at Friday evening, putting finishing touches to their strategies for the election.

The INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oyo State, Stephen Bawa Manya, during a press conference, on Friday, said that seven political parties were participating in the by-election.

The Oyo State Government also announced that there would be a restriction of vehicular movement in the affected constituency between 7am and 3pm.

According to Manya, the candidates who have been cleared for the election are Are Arowolo Tunde, Action Alliance; Latinwo Bashiru, Action Congress; Egbedeyi Olufemi, All Nigeria Peoples Party; and Lajide Olatunde, Democratic Peoples Alliance.

Others are Okunola Rufai, National Conscience Party; Oyetunji Adebayo, Peoples Democratic Party; and Adeleke Adekunle, United Nigeria Peoples Party.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Okuwobi, speaking with Saturday Tribune on the preparation of the police for the election, said that the command was “fully prepared for the election.”

Okuwobi said, “Apart from the regular policemen on routine duty, more officers will be drafted from the headquarters to maintain peace and order in the affected constituency during the election.”

The mood of the public for the election was low on Friday when Saturday Tribune visited Moniya and Lalupon, headquarters of the two local government areas involved in the election.

People were seen conducting their businesses in a peaceful manner, with little or no anxiety in anticipation of the election.

At the Molete residence of the PDP leader in Oyo State, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, the human traffic at the expansive compound was more than usual and the followers of the party were seen mapping out strategies for the election.

Also at the Oke-Ado office of the ANPP gubernatorial candidate in Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, a few party members were spotted discussing the election.

The Bodija residence of the immediate former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, was a beehive of activities for AC members in Oyo State.

Party members in their large numbers were present, boosting the morale of the standard bearer of the party, Basiru Latinwo.

Latinwo, speaking with Saturday Tribune, said that he was satisfied with the level of preparation of INEC for the election.

He said he expected the police to live up to its responsibility of providing adequate security. At the Iwo Raod residence of the late Hon. Segun Oladimeji, whose death led to the by-election, there was no visible movement.

All was quiet when Saturday Tribune visited. No member of the household was spotted when Saturday Tribune visited on Friday at about 4pm.

However, the INEC boss said that no ad-hoc electoral personnel would be used for the election.

He said only permanent staff members of the commission would officiate at every polling booth. He said, “In order to ensure a hitch-free by-election, all political parties involved in the election have shown commitment to peace by signing a memorandum on understanding to keep peace throughout the period of the election.”

Also, Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, in a statement on Friday, urged the people of Oyo State “not to allow political masquerades and confusionists to deceive them any more.”