The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) Chairman, Barrister Isiaka Olagunju and the Oyo State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr. Olukemi Afolayan were live on BCOS Sunday morning program ‘Eyi Ara’ to further sensitise the voting public on why they should come out to vote next Saturday and make their votes count as OYSIEC expressed its readiness to conduct a rancour free local government election that will beat all imaginations.
Dr Olukemi Afolayan in her own response used the medium to enlighten the listeners that the local government system is the closest form of government and accessible to the people.
“If we have a functional local government system, life will be more bearable for everyone and governance will go deep into the communities with necessary utilities delivered”. She said.
Dr Afolayan also stated that much unlike what was obtained in the past, even across many other states in the country, it will not only be the ruling party in the state that will be contesting in this coming local government election, there will be other major parties involved.
Her words “Unlike what we witnessed in the past where it is only the ruling party that participate in the local government election. Now all the major political parties are fully involved and actively engage in campaigns for the first time just like we have in the general elections”.
“This election will also serve as an example for other states to learn from that a free and fair local government election can be conducted.” Afolayan stated.
The Chairman of OYSIEC, Barrister Olagunju also assured the people that we are no more in the era of electoral violence and according to him, this new peaceful system of election can already be seen through the party campaigns and primaries which have recorded no form of hooliganism or thuggery from any quarter.
“We are now out of the era of electoral violence and all electoral processes are now peaceful in Oyo state. This is already evident during the party primaries where there was no complaints or violence whatsoever from any quarters in our various local governments in the state”.
Barrister Olagunju continued aso mentioned the State electoral umpire’s commitment towards enforcing a peaceful election from their various meetings with different law enforcement agencies.
“The commission have met with different law enforcement agencies like the Nigerian Police, Department of State Security (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corpse (NSCDC) and others and they assured us of their maximum cooperation.
All electoral violence culprits will be arrested. Also, both NSCDC and the DSS have enquired about the flashpoints areas that they will properly monitor to ward off electoral violence . .
Olagunju affirmed that “All the parties in the presence of Security heads are also to engage in peace Accord ahead of the election during the week. Also Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA) will help in the areas of prevention of vote buying, ballot stuffing and other primordial corrupt acts”
The NOA State Director added that voters education outreach have practically been carried out in all local governments areas of the state, including Iseyin where the representatives of the agency met with the Aseyin of Iseyin and all Chiefs to sensitize their subjects further on standard voting system.
“The agency ‘voters education outreach’ have practically reached all local governments in the state including Iseyin where our representative met with the Aseyin of Iseyin and all chiefs in the palace to sensitize them on voting system and how to make their votes count” Afolayan stated.
The interactive program also added phone-in session during the highly informative live studio engagement that witnessed various phone callers from various part of the state with people sharing their utmost concerns and fears ahead of the election. Their questions were promptly answered by both guests who shed light on all troubling issues.
“Councillor election results will be collated and announced at the ward collation office while the local government chairman result will be collated and announced at the local government collation center by LG Returning Officers.
“All the equipment needed for the election will be ready at all centrees latest next Friday, for ease of delivery on election ports .” Olagunju concluded.
