Daud Olatunji
The Chairman of the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC), Babatunde Osibodu, has dismissed claims that he was directed by the court to refund certain funds collected by the commission.
Speaking on a radio programme in Abeokuta, Osibodu clarified that there was no court order mandating him to make any refunds, emphasising that he was not in contempt of court.
“The court has not ordered me to do so, so there’s no issue of contempt here at all,” Osibodu stated.
He further argued that if those who obtained the judgment believed a refund was necessary, they should take further legal steps to pursue the matter.
“We’re working on it with our lawyers, and we didn’t take that step lightly. We believed it was a constitutional action, but a judge, in his wisdom, held that it is not,” he added, hinting at potential further appeals.
The chairman asserted that the commission had explored all legal avenues before implementing its fee policy, which included charging administrative fees for local government election candidates.
Osibodu defended the decision, noting that charging candidates was part of the commission’s efforts to offset some of its costs, which is standard practice in many states.
Initially, the commission set fees at N250,000 for chairmanship candidates and between N100,000 and N150,000 for councilorship candidates.
He said however, after receiving appeals, the fees were reduced to N200,000 for chairmanship and N150,000 for councilorship candidates.
Despite criticism over the charges, Osibodu emphasised that OGSIEC’s fees were among the lowest in the country, contrasting them with other states where fees reached up to N5 million for chairmanship aspirants.
He denied claims that the commission anticipated excessive revenues from the fees, revealing that only N70 million was generated, far below rumoured figures of N750 million.
“Expenditure in these elections is significant, and the amount we raised is a small part of it. But to us, it represents the commitment of the participants in the process,” Osibodu noted, defending the commission’s need for contributions from candidates to affirm their dedication to the election process.
Addressing concerns over potential litigation, the chairman expressed confidence in the commission’s position, stressing that the matter may ultimately require further judicial clarification.
He also noted that legal challenges are not unusual, asserting, “There would be litigation even if it’s Jesus Christ that is presiding over elections in Nigeria.”
The OGSIEC chairman insisted that any further action regarding the fees would be taken in line with judicial guidance and in the best interests of electoral integrity in Ogun State.
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