The National Rescue Movement (NRM) has taken legal action against the Ogun State Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) to challenge a range of election-related issues, including administrative fees for candidates running for local government elections.
OOs of N250,000 are required for chairmanship candidates, while councillorship candidates must pay N150,000. Female councillorship candidates, however, enjoy a reduced fee of N100,000. The National Rescue Movement is disputing these fees as unfair and the OGSIEC has been taken to court to demand that the charges be declared illegal, unconstitutional, and void.
A further point of contention is the short notice given by OGSIEC for the local government elections, scheduled for November 16, 2024. NRM argues that the electoral body has failed to engage with all registered political parties in consultation and as a result, election time has not been sufficient for proper campaigning and preparation.
The National Rescue Movement has filed a suit (AB/741/2024) against OGSIEC, seeking to declare the administrative fees imposed as null and void. They also requested the court to bar OGSIEC from proceeding with the elections on the current schedule, citing Article 7(1)(4), 106, 107, and 197(b) of the 1999 Constitution as well as sections 10 and 14(1) of the Ogun State Electoral Law of 2007, section 3 and 18(1) of the Ogun State Electoral Commission Law of 2006, and paragraph 4(c) of the OGSIEC guidelines for local government elections in Ogun State.
The NRM also raised concerns that OGSIEC has been acting outside of its constitutional powers, specifically with regards to the election timetable, as there has been lack of efficiency in the notification given and consultation conducted. The party is seeking clarification on how OGSIEC has the authority to set the schedule for the elections without having a proper notice and consultation with other political parties.
In an ongoing proceeding, Justice S.O Adeniyi of the Ogun State High Court in Abeokuta has expressed the urgent need for this pre-election matter to be resolved. The court has scheduled a further hearing for November 8, 2024, giving the defendant three days to provide their defense to the suit.
