Osun 2018: NGO Sensitises Electorate
Ahead of the September 22 governorship election in Osun State, a Non Governmental Organization (NGO), Hope for Family Development Initiative (HFDI) has embarked on sensitization programme for residents of the state on the need to participate in the election.
At a sensitization rally held in Ejigbo, headquarters of Ejigbo Local Government Area of the state, the NGO mobilized youths, traders, students and artisans and called on the people to shun violence during the election.
The Executive Director of the organization, Mr Stephen Aremu while speaking at the sensitization rally said the electorates should ensure that peace reign in all polling centres during the election, just as he called on the security agencies to ensure proper monitoring of all the nooks and crannies of the state during the election period.
He called on the people of the state to troop out and exercise their franchise, even as he called on the people to go to the polling centres with only their Permanent Voters Card (PVC), saying that without the PVC no individual will be allowed to vote on election day.
Aremu who hinted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has made necessary arrangements to ensure that the election is free, fair and credible, called on politicians to play the game according to its rule in the interest of the state.
While highlighting some electoral offences which include vote buying, impersonation, bribery, thugery and hooliganism at polling centres during election, Aremu called on prospective voters to abide by the electoral guidelines.
He warned politicians and voters not to violate the provisions of the electoral acts before, during and after the election, stating that the security agencies would frustrate attempts by politicians to cause crisis during the election.
Also, he called on voters to report any case of electoral malpractice or violence to security agents during election, just as he warned against acts that could undermine the confidence reposed in the security agencies.
Aremu also called on voters not to sell their votes, but cast their vote base on their conviction on the choice of their political party without making their choice known at polling centres during the election.
Specifically, he urged women in all the 30 Local Government areas of the state to participate actively in the election, saying that women have every right to vote like their male counterpart and have the ability to make things happen in the society.
While educating prospective voters on the election procedure, Aremu said accreditation and election will commence simultaneously in all the polling units in the state by 8.00am, while all voters on the queue by 2.00pm will all be attended to.