2023 Election: Don’t be used to perpetrate electoral fraud – Osun REC

Members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have been warned to refrain from being used by politicians to perpetrate electoral fraud.

This warning was issued by Dr Mutiu Agboke, the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) while speaking with members of the 2022 Batch C Stream I corps members deployed to Osun State at the NYSC permanent orientation camp, Ede, on Thursday.

Agboke who reminded the corps members of the sacrosancy of the Memorandum of Understanding between the NYSC and the INEC, added that the corps members were certified stakeholders in election management in Nigeria.

While hinting that the 2023 general election is very critical for Nigeria, the Osun INEC boss stated that INEC is being careful because the stakes are high.

“The 2023 general election is very critical for Nigeria. INEC is careful because the stakes are high and it must be properly observed by the NYSC for it not to be rubbished.
“The Presiding Officers are the Director of the Polling Unit and INEC decided to make them corps members because of integrity.

“The day INEC incorporated NYSC into electioneering, INEC had never had any problems. Though not all corps members are full of integrity.

“You must manifest the highest level of the Omoluabi ethos.

“We will prosecute any NYSC member found culpable on election day, so avoid engaging in electoral malpractice.

“The existing MOU between INEC and NYSC is sacrosanct.”

Agboke revealed that he would follow all posted NYSC members to their polling units.

While speaking on the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) into the electoral process in Nigeria, Agboke stated that with the device, the electoral umpire has removed all human interferences from the electioneering process.