On Wednesday, the National Rescue Movement petitioned the Ogun State High Court in Abeokuta to declare the administrative charges mandated by the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission unlawful, illegitimate, and null and void.
In the upcoming local government elections on November 16, the state electoral board has mandated that political parties pay N250,000 in administrative fees for each candidate running for chairmanship, while those for councillorship must pay N150,000.
The NRM submitted an originating summons (Suit No. AB/741/2024) asking the court to declare these OGSIEC charges unlawful, void, and unconstitutional.
In order to provide political parties enough time for preparations and campaigning, the party also asked the court to order OGSIEC to postpone the local government elections.
The NRM, represented by Adekola Adedeji, also requested that the court stop OGSIEC from holding elections in Ogun State on November 16.
According to Adedeji, the lawsuit aims to ascertain whether OGSIEC has the authority to unilaterally set an election schedule and move on without providing sufficient notice or consulting other political parties.
The Nigerian Constitution (1999, as amended), sections 7(1)(4), 106, 107, and 197(b), sections 10 and 14(1) of the Ogun State Electoral Law (2007), section 3, 18(1) of the Ogun State Electoral Commission Law (2006), and paragraph 4(c) of the OGSIEC guidelines for local government elections in Ogun State, he claimed, have all been violated by OGSIEC.
“Whether the first defendant can unilaterally impose on the claimant the timetable and date of the local government elections scheduled for November 16, 2024, in Ogun State, without due notice and consultation meetings with all registered political parties and stakeholders for the said election,” is one of the issues the court will decide.
Additionally, the claimant asked the court to rule on whether OGSIEC’s imposition of the fees—N250,000, N150,000, and N100,000, respectively—violates candidates’ rights to eligibility under the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and is, thus, illegal.
The NRM is also requesting a ruling that the obligation for these fees is unlawful and ought to be repealed.
According to rules signed by OGSIEC Chairman Babatunde A. Osibodu, Esq., on August 8, 2024, the claimant is requesting an injunction to stop OGSIEC from holding the election on November 16.
According to Justice S.O. Adeniyi, the case is a pre-election issue that needs immediate action.
