The National Rescue Movement (NRM) has dragged the Ogun State Independent Election Commission (OGSIEC) to court over the required administrative charges imposed on all candidates in the November 16 local government election.
According to reports, the Chairman of the Commission, Babatunde Osibodu had announced a N250,000 charge on each chairmanship candidate.
Councillorship candidates were charged N150,000. Female councillorship candidates are to pay N100,000.
The NRM has asked the court to declare the charges as illegal.
The party also contested the election timetable, saying that the Commission did not provide adequate notice or hold consultation sessions with all legally registered political parties beforehand.
The suit marked AB/741/2024 was heard by the state High Court presided over by Justice S O Adeniyi on Wednesday, with the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission as the first defendant and the Attorney General as the second defendant.
The plaintiff’s counsel, Adekola Adedeji asked the court to determine whether or not the charges do not violate the eligibility rights of the candidates under the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and “is not completely inconsistent with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, Ogun State Electoral Law, 2007”.
The party is seeking the following reliefs:
“A DECLARATION that the Imposition of the payment of the sum of N250,000; N150,000 and N100,000 respectively, by the Defendants on the Claimant’s candidates contesting for the position of the Chairmen and Councillors is illegal, unconstitutional and be declared null and void.
“AN ORDER Of this Honorable Court for an Injunction restraining the 1st Defendant from holding and conducting the Ogun State Local Government Council Elections on the 16th of November, 2024 based on Electoral guidelines dated 8th August, 2024 and signed by Babatunde A. Osibodu Esq, Chairman of the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission and set aside the Election Timetable for the said Local Government Council Election.
“AN ORDER of this Honorable Court setting aside the payment of the sum of N250,000, N150,000, and N100,000 imposed by the 1st defendant on the Claimant and their candidates contesting at the Ogun State Local Government Council Elections scheduled for the 16th November 2024.
“AN ORDER of this Honourable Court mandating and directing the 1st Defendant to postpone the Ogun State Local Government Election from the 16th of November, 2024 to a further date to be agreed upon after due and proper consultation with all political parties and stakeholders in the electoral process.”
In his ruling, Justice Adeniyi held that the suit, as a pre-election matter, will be determined before the date of the election.
He directed respondents to file a defence to the originating summons in 72 hours while the claimant has two days to reply.
Adeniyi adjourned the matter till November 8 for the hearing.