From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Osun State has warned the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) against succumbing to blackmail over the forthcoming local government elections.

The party said it observed campaign of calumny aimed at disrupting the February 22 local government polls in the state, saying OSSIEC should remain focus and proceed with the election.

The party in a statement issued by its chairman, Dr Tosin Odeyemi said the commission has expended huge amount of state’s resources on the preparation for the council poll, hence the need to see it to the end.

Odeyemi said only an enemy of the state will because of selfish interest, make attempt to stop the planned election.

His words “I was surprised seen so many things flying around on social media recently about the next month’s poll.

“Why would anybody wait till this moment before raising any objection to the poll or its handlers? We have been showing concerns about the way the ruling party in the state has been spending our collective money.

“Any reasonable person in Osun will know that OSIEC has committed a lot to this election. Our party, together with other political parties in the state, APC inclusive, held a meeting with OSIEC some months ago where we all passed vote of confidence on the Hassim Abioye led commission.

“The representative of All Progressives Congress was there raising no objection to the move. He was there throughout the meeting in acceptance of all what we did that day.

“Why making moves that can jeopardize the process now? We all clamoured for local government autonomy, how are we going to experience it when some people are planning to stop the poll?

“Things are not going on well at the grassroot in Osun State since state governors hijacked its administration, now that we are hopeful of having democratically elected people at the local level, some are planning to send us back to square one. No way,” he added.

Odeyemi however called on OSSIEC not to be deterred, but put everything in order and ensure a free and fair local government election in the state.