New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has threatened to charge the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) for contempt of court, if the electoral agency Insists on its decision to collect non-refundable deposit of N200,000 and N100,000 respectively for chairmanship and councillorship candidates contesting the July 24 councils'poll in the state
Chairman of OGSIEC, Mr.Babatunde Osibodu, who is also legal practitioner, last Sunday while featuring on a live radio programme in Abeokuta, the state capital, claimed that the commission had not received any court judgement restraining it from collecting such deposit inline with the provisions of the state electoral laws
But the State Chairman of NNPP, Comrade Olaposi Oginni in a chat with Edu-Biznews on Tuesday, claimed that OGSIEC had been duly served with the judgement of an Abeokuta High Court sitting in Isabo, with suit number AB/66/2004 delivered by Honourable Justice Soremi
The judgement according to him, is to the effect of certain sections of the State Independent Electoral Commission law of Ogun State which contravened section 7(4), sections 106 and 107 of the 1999Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended
Oginni says the party is calling for cancellation of the payment of non-refundable deposit which it described as illegal, based on the judgement
The NNPP boss insisted that the party would have no option than to initiate legal suit against OGSIEC for committing contempt of court, if the commission refuses to comply with the judgement
"OGSIEC is aware of the judgement, having been presented to it by NNPP, so there is no ignorant in law, so the commission can't claim ignorant", he stated
Oginni however expressed confidence that the commission's chairman would look into the matter and do the needful
His words, "OGSIEC Chairman, Babatunde Osibodu promised to look into the matter, recognizing the fact that similar case happened in Oyo State and the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission reversed itself. We have no doubt in our minds that Mr.Babatunde Osibodu would be careful enough not to commit contempt of court on this very sensitive matter"
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