*vows it won’t be business as usual
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Resident Electoral Commissioner, (REC) in Oyo State, Barrister Mutiu Agboke has assures that there will be no room for manipulation in the 2023 general elections in Nigeria.
Speaking on Monday while monitoring conduct of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) primaries election at Jogor Event Center in Ibadan, the REC pointed out that come 2023, it will not be business as usual for Nigerian politicians
Barrister Agboke emphasized that INEC is prepared towards ensuring that the 2023 general election is hitch free, fair and acceptable to the people of this country.
Specifically, the INEC REC declared that there will be no room for rigging, thuggery, ballot snatching, adding that those engaging in such acts would be wasting their time and energy, saying, during the 2023 polls, results of any polling unit where there is a case of violence, will not be counted by the commission .
Barrister Agboke however advised politicians to shun violence, thuggery as well as buying and selling of votes during the 2023 general elections considering the fact that those caught with buying and selling of votes will be prosecuted and jailed.
“Do not buy votes, do not sell votes. All the 18 political parties have a presence in Oyo State.This coming election will not be business as usual. You cannot profit from manipulation during the elections, you can only profit from your popularity”, he said.
Barrister Agboke added, ” NNPC is one of the biggest party in Nigeria, therefore your governorship candidate is a factor to be reckon with in Oyo state. I’m using this medium to appeal to the leadership of this party to encourage all the members to go for their PVC. The chairman should tell all the delegates here that on election day they should not allow stomach Infrastructure to destroy their struggle”, he said.
Oyo state governorship candidate of the NNPP, Engineer Joshua Olukayode Popoola in his acceptance speech, said there will be no room for acts of thuggery and violence in the party, saying, ” there will be no room for thuggery in 2023. The work has started. We have to work. I will ensure that youths play a major role in our government”.
“In our state today, there are harsh realities of extreme poverty faced by our people, which fuel the state of insecurity all over the country. Hunger, lack of formal education and lack equal of opportunities lure many of our residents into criminal activities”, he said.
Engineer Popoola added, ” Many of our communities are paralyzed with fear – due to incessant communal crises, kidnappings, cyber-crimes and other social ills, as well as the threat of banditry and terrorism.”
“When I am finally elected in 2023, security of lives and property will be one of our cardinal objectives. Strengthening existing security architecture and creating new ones for improved surveillance, Information and intelligence gathering, and community policing in partnership with our Community Development Associations and other relevant bodies will be on the front burner. Equipping our security personnel with modern gadgets and technology capacity, such as CCTVs, mobile command centers, communication equipment, internet connectivities and other facilities to enhance the performance of their duties.”
Speaking further, the NNPP governorship candidate stressed, “there is no gain saying that the youths are pivotal in national development and Oyo state will take the lead for others to follow as we are the pacesetter”, saying, ” I will ensure that our youths play major roles at all levels, not just in sports and academics but also in the government and private sector”.
“This will be a government driven by youthful energy, creativity, innovation and a championing entrepreneurial spirit. Our youths will be given all the opportunities to realize their potential to the best of their abilities within our framework. For youths who have ideas and capacities, we will ensure that there is funding for their ventures; and we shall make “Oyo made” the new slogan across the country through our job creation drive.
