Ibadan — Chairman of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), Mr. Olaleye Olasunkanmi, has said that the creation of more wards in the state was long overdue. He added that the electoral law provides that it should be done within 10 years, while the last time it was done in the state was almost 17 years ago.

He said this at the on-going interactive session with stakeholders in the three zones of the state which is also featuring on-the-spot collection of memoranda towards delimitation of wards within the 33 local government areas.

While maintaining that the delimitation exercise would be done with total dedication, fairness and commitment by the OYSIEC, Olasunkanmi said that the need to embark on the interactive session became imperative to give opportunity to the stakeholders not only to submit memoranda but for them to express their views on wny they needed additional wards.

He, therefore, assured all and sundry that their request would be fairly considered and that honesty and sincerity would prevail in the Commission's judgment as every request would be treated equally on its merit.

Speakers at each forum appealed to the OYSIEC to critically examine their various requests and give them fair consideration by approving additional wards to allow for fair representation in the political development of their local government areas.

The commission concluded the first phase of the interactive session and memoranda collection with a visit to Ago Amodu in Saki East that hosted the five local government councils of Oke Ogun 1; Otu in Itesiwaju that host the five local governments of Oke Ogun 11 and Kinnira in Ogbomoso North which hosted the five Local Governments in Ogbomoso Zone.

The collection and interactive tour continue next week when the OYSIEC is expected to meet the people of Oyo Zone, Ibadan Zones 1 and 11 and Ibarapa Zone of the state.