0
0
A coalition of independent assessors has released a document on the status and preparedness of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), its electoral process and has confirmed the readiness of the current OSSIEC leadership to conduct Saturday’s local government election.
The Group, known as The Coalition of Independent Assessors in Nigeria (CIAN) led by a Professor of Mathematics who is also the Director of Quality Assurance, Osun State University, Professor Amos Popoola, said that, unlike the 2007 and 2022 local government elections in the state, the current OSSIEC is well prepared for the conduct of the February 22 polls, having maintained established due process.
This was the kernel of the report released by the coalition, after the evaluation, verification, and assessment of the OSSIEC’s electoral process, in a detailed submission released recently to the media across Nigeria.
Recall that, in years past, particularly during the erstwhile Government of Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola’s APC’s shabby Local Government Elections of 2022, the coalition has been critical of OSSIEC’s operations.
With the benefit of hindsight, one recollects CIAN’s concerns regarding the autonomy of OSSIEC and its perceived lack of independence from political interference, which undermined the fairness and credibility of local elections under previous administrations.
The Coalition of Independent Assessors in Nigeria (CIAN) also observed that there was no proper record keeping since previous administrations, noting that the current leadership of the commission is changing the tide through innovative creation of a website and prompt response to the public’s emails and through phone calls.
Furthermore, the coalition stressed that there is a general infrastructural uplift easily identifiable in the commission, whilst also stating that the current OSSIEC, unlike in the past, now deploys technology for operational efficiency.
However, CIAN has advised that the OSSIEC should pay serious attention to archival retrieval and enhancement of record keeping.
The coalition also advised that the ongoing improvement in the Commission should be sustained while urging the OSSIEC to study the CIAN reports and analysis for the purpose of future decision-making and strategic planning.
Other notable improvements in the official conducts of OSSIEC, according to CIAN, is the open door policy among all hierarchies of Staff at the commission.
CIAN also confirmed that all the identified improvements made by OSSIEC in just a few years, have contributed in no small measure to the preparedness of the Commission for the conduct of forthcoming elections in 2025 and beyond.
Impliedly, the CIAN report on OSSIEC can be summarily concluded as scientific, empirical and, baring any unforseen, the February 22, 2025 Local Government Elections will exceed all expectations, positively.
In conclusion, CIAN recommended that there should be institutionalisation of post-election audit and evaluation. It recommended that verification exercises such as this should be carried out from time to time for top-notch Quality Assurance purposes.
The other members of “The Coalition of Independent Assessors in Nigeria” (CIAN) are Prof Elijah Agbaje, Prof Taiwo Ojurongbe, Dr Olufunmiso Ajala, Dr Folasade Adeyemi, Dr Michael Ilesanmi, and Dr Olufemi Akinrinade.
Average Rating