Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has appointed Hashim Abioye, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the new chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC).

Abioye’s appointment as the state’s chief electoral officer was confirmed by the Osun State House of Assembly, and he was sworn in today alongside other appointees. Other persons appointed to serve as members of OSIEC are Niyi Abioye, Timothy Ayofe Folarin, Raufu Olalere Sikiru, Wale Iyaniwura, Olubunmi Ayobami Ibiloye and Mobolaji Olayinka Niniola. Adedapo Ayodeji is the secretary.

The government’s official statement on the appointment, which was signed by Olawale Rasheed, the governor’s spokesperson, read in part, “New members of state statutory commissions, including those of the State Judicial Service Commission, have been sworn into office by the Deputy Governor of Osun State, Prince Kola Adewusi. The swearing-in followed the confirmation of the nominees as forwarded to the State Assembly by Governor Ademola Adeleke.

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“Those confirmed and sworn in include chairmen and members of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, Osun State Judicial Service Commission, Osun State Civil Service Commission, and Osun State House of Assembly Service Commission.

“The Deputy Governor who represented the State Governor tasked the appointees on the need for dedication and commitment to duty, tasking them to act always in compliance with due process and and extant laws.”

ABIOYE’S MEMBERSHIP OF THE PDP

Abioye is a legal practitioner called to the Nigerian bar in 2010. On August 22, 2022, the PDP formed a caretaker committee for its Osun State chapter. This was confirmed in an official statement signed by Debo Ologunagba, the party’s national publicity secretary.

The committee comprised Adekunle Akindele, chairman; Hashim Abioye, secretary; Niyi Owolade; Mrs. Ayo Awolowo; B.T. Salami; Adetoye Ogunboyega and Razaq Oyelani.

Abioye has featured prominently since the inception of the present administration. Shortly after Adeleke’s swearing-in in November 2022, he constituted a committee on solid minerals to review the activities of mining revenue consultants in the state and made Abioye its secretary.

Similarly, in July, Abioye made the list of the 30 special advisers the governor secured a legislative approval to appoint as his aides. Abioye would later be made an aide on legal matters to the governor.

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Also, Abioye was one of the lawyers who represented the PDP in the post-election litigation instituted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against Adeleke’s declaration as winner of the July 16, 2022 governorship election in the state.

This latest composition of the electoral commission suggests that the government will conduct local government elections in the state in the coming months.