LG polls: Don’t be willing tools in the hands of unscrupulous politicians — OGSIEC boss counsels youths

Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta

Chairman of Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC), Mr. Babatunde Osibodu, has challenged the teeming youths in the state to shun the temptations of being used to perpetrate electoral violence in the forthcoming local government elections in the state.

Rather than being willing tools in the hands of some unscrupulous politicians, Mr Babatunde Osibodu urged the youths to utilise their large voting numbers to make the desirable impact in the local government polls.

The OGSIEC boss gave this advice while speaking to journalists at Abeokuta, the state capital.

“Those who fall between the age bracket of 18 and 35 are no doubt the majority, they can come together to form a common force and make bold statement politically. If this is done, they would not need any Godfather, this is the time they need to make good use of their strength and number,” Osibodu said.

He added that the Commission is working closely with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies, to ensure the protection of the electorates, as well as electoral materials, saying it would guide against electoral malpractices, to further build confidence of the people.

Meanwhile, OGSIEC has advised prospective voters who either relocated from a different State or have moved from their former place of residence to a new one within the State, to contact the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to be able to vote in the forthcoming Local Government elections.

Osibodu, explained that the Commission do not have the power to carry out continuous voter’s registration and polling unit’s delimitation, as such powers reside solely with INEC.

“The Commission has been inundated with enquiries by people who either relocated from other States or changed their places of residence, but are willing to vote in the forthcoming Local Government elections in Ogun State on what to do considering the fact that they are to vote in the place they registered.

“They are to seize the opportunity of the Continuous Voter Registration to be embarked upon by INEC from Monday, June 28, 2021,” he said.