An Ogun State High Court, sitting in Abeokuta, has set November 8, 2024, for the hearing of a suit challenging the Ogun State Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) over its imposition of an administrative fee on candidates contesting the local government elections.
It will be recalled that OGSIEC had announced a N250,000 charge for each chairmanship candidate, while councillorship candidates were required to pay N150,000, with female councillorship candidates charged N100,000.
The National Rescue Movement (NRM) has approached the court to challenge the legality of these administrative fees, requesting the court to declare the charges unlawful.
Additionally, the party is contesting the election timetable, arguing that the Commission failed to provide adequate notice or engage in consultations with all legally registered political parties before announcing the election dates.
In the originating summons (suit no: AB/741/2024), the party has asked the court to declare the imposition of the administrative fee by OGSIEC as illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.
The NRM also seeks an order for OGSIEC to postpone the local government elections, currently scheduled for November 16, 2024, to provide sufficient time for political parties to prepare and campaign.
Represented by Mr. Adekola Adedeji, the party further requested the court to restrain OGSIEC from conducting the local government elections on November 16, 2024, in Ogun State.
Adedeji argued that the case would determine whether OGSIEC can unilaterally set the election timetable and proceed with the elections without adequate notice or consultations with other political parties.
He contended that the electoral body has violated various provisions, including Sections 7(1)(4), 106, 107, and 197(b) of the Nigerian Constitution (1999, as amended), Sections 10 and 14(1) of the Ogun State Electoral Law 2007, Section 3 and 18(1) of the Ogun State Electoral Commission Law 2006, and Paragraph 4(c) of the OGSIEC Guidelines for Local Government Elections.
Adedeji stated: “The issue is whether the 1st Defendant can unilaterally impose on the claimant the timetable and date for the conduct of the local government elections, purportedly set for November 16, 2024, in Ogun State, without proper notice and consultations with all the registered political parties and stakeholders for the said election.”
In his ruling, Justice S.O. Adeniyi described the case as a pre-election matter, which requires urgent attention. He granted the defendant three days to file a defence, and adjourned the matter for further hearing on November 8, 2024.
