The Oyo state local government elections are scheduled for today, Saturday, the 27th of April 2024, with a runoff scheduled for the 4th of May 2024.
Being a local government election, the exercise will be conducted by the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) and held in all 33 local government areas of the state.
The OYSIEC, like other State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), is established under section 197(1) of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria which provides for the creation of the SIECs as well as other bodies.
According to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and State Independent Electoral Commission Law, the Commission has the power to:
“Conduct, organise and supervise all elections to Local Government Councils in the State in accordance with the provisions of the law or any other enactment, regulations rules or manuals issued by the Electoral Commission; and
Render such advice as it may consider necessary to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the compilation of and the registration of Voters for the Local Government Elections in the State.”
Local Government elections are critical because they serve as an opportunity to vote for those who will serve as grassroots representatives of the people, especially as they are the arm of government closest to the people.
Learn Politics encourages all citizens eligible to vote to turn out and vote for the candidates of their choice.