The National Rescue Movement (NRM) has taken legal action against the Ogun State Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) for allegedly imposing administration fees on candidates for local government elections.
Naija News understands that OGSIEC has set a fee of ₦250,000 for each chairperson candidate while councilor candidates have to pay ₦150,000. In addition, compensation for female city council candidates will be reduced by ₦100,000.
NRM was not happy with this development and prayed to the court for a judgment declaring these charges illegal.
The party also expressed concerns about the election schedule, claiming the commission failed to provide sufficient notice and did not participate in consultations with all legally registered political parties before the announcement.
In the first summons, identified as case number: AB/741/2024, the NRM asks the court to declare the administrative fees imposed by OGSIEC to be illegal, unconstitutional and void. The party is also asking the court to order OGSIEC to postpone the local government elections, currently scheduled for November 16, 2024, to allow political parties enough time to campaign and prepare.
The NRM, represented by Mr. Adekola Adedeji, is also seeking an injunction restraining OGSIEC from proceeding with the local government elections on a specified date. Mr. Adeji said the lawsuit aims to clarify whether OGSIEC has the authority to unilaterally set election dates and conduct elections without proper notice or consultation with other political groups. He emphasized that there is.
He said that the electoral management body is subject to several provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, specifically Articles 7(1)(4), 106, 107 and 197(b) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. ), as well as Articles 10 and 14(1). ), the Ogun State Elections Act of 2007, sections 3 and 18(1) of the Ogun State Electoral Commission Act of 2006 and paragraph 4(c) of the OGSIEC Guidelines for Local Government Elections in Ogun State.
He said: “On the Interpretation of Sections 7(1)(4), 106, 107 and 197(b) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, as amended, Sections 10 and 14(1) of the Ogun State Electoral Act 2007 determines section 3, 18 (1) Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission Act, 2006 and paragraph 4(c) OGSIEC Guidelines for Ogun State Local Government Elections;
“The 1st Defendant has made the election in Ogun State allegedly scheduled for November 16, 2024 without due notice and without due notice and consultative meeting with all duly registered political parties and stakeholders of the said election. Whether it is possible to unilaterally impose the date and time of a municipal election on the plaintiff.
Justice SO Adeni of the Ogun State High Court in Abeokuta, in his judgment, said the case was a pre-election matter that should be heard on an urgent basis.
He scheduled a further hearing on the NRM lawsuit on November 8, 2024.
He therefore gave the defendant three days to file a defense to the suit.
