The Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) has changed the age limit for candidates in the forthcoming local government elections in the state from 30 to 25 years.
The commission’s Chairman, Babatunde Osibodu, in a statement on Friday in Abeokuta said this was the result of a review of the laws governing conduct of the state’s Local Government elections.
He said this was to bring the guidelines in line with Sections 7 (4) & 106 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“It stipulates that a candidate is qualified for the local government election if he or she has attained the age of 25 years. Following this adjustment, OGSIEC has extended the deadline for each party’s primaries by one week,” Osibodu said.
The statement indicates that the elections’ primaries, initially set to end on Monday, will now run until September 16.
“The collection of personal data forms (CF 001 and CF 002) by each political party has also been extended to Sept. 20.
“Political parties which have already conducted their primaries may collect the necessary forms for each of their candidates starting from Tuesday, with submissions accepted between September 16 and September 20.
“Additionally, a meeting with all political parties has been scheduled for Monday at the commission’s ceadquarters in Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta,” the statement added.
Elections into chairmanship and councilorship positions in local government areas in Ogun will hold on November 16.