Speaking on a talk show aired on a private radio station, Rock City FM, Abeokuta , on Saturday, The Ogun State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Afolabi Afuape, said the council poll cannot be conducted this 2020 again.

He said local government elections in the State will now hold in the next six months.

The Ogun State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Afolabi Afuape, said the council poll cannot be conducted this 2020 again

According to Afuape, the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) is yet to be constituted by Governor Dapo Abiodun.

After the constitution of OGSIEC, Afuape disclosed that political parties would be given three months notice for the local government election, adding that two additional months would be needed for preparations.

Speaking on Rock City FM, Abeokuta, the Commissioner blamed the delay in the conduct of the council poll on the COVID-19 pandemic, saying it did not allow government to source for the huge amount of money needed for the election.

In his words, Afuape canvassed for the takeover of the local government elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

This, he said, will ensure the conduct of the election within the stipulated time and relieve state governments of the huge fund required for same.

However, Afuape said the state may conduct the council election in the next six months.

At the moment, the 20 local governments in the state are being run by transition committees who were appointed in January by Gov Abiodun.

The three-month tenure of the transition Committees has been extended two times by the governor, through the approval of the Ogun State House of Assembly.