YYC Pleads With INEC To Ensure Credible, Fair Poll

Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji

ABEOKUTA - A pressure group, Yoruba Youth Congress (YYC worldwide) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a credible and transparent election in Ogun State.

The group, during an emergency meeting on the last minute postponement of the presidential election and the just concluded presidential and national assembly elections, said they are to ensure a free and credible election in the state.

  

The meeting was held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, in Abeokuta on Monday 27th February 2019.

The group in a statement and signed by its state coordinator, Alhaja Temitope Fausat and National Coordinator, Comrade Olaposi Oginni, said that they are in move to ensure a credible outcome in the forthcoming governorship polls.

"At the end of the meeting, we resolved to learn our voice to a call on the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that Nigerians witness a free, fair, credible and transparent election in the governorship and State Assembly election of March 9th, 2019

"Specifically, we like to use the medium to call on professor Abdul Gafar Raji, Ogun State Resident Electoral commissioner (REC) of Ogun state to give the good people of Ogun State a credible election and be truly independent in their dealings with everybody in the State", the group said. 

It added, "The Youth Congress is fully aware and convinced that the REC is in Ogun state to do a patriotic duty and not the bidding of an individual and a group and we pray that God will guide him rightly,

"Obviously, people are free to speculate, the onus is on a man to proof them wrong, in view of this, we urge the Resident electoral commissioner to live above board to correct any erroneous impression people may have had about him, may be we should use this opportunity to welcome our able REC to Ogun state where we like to do things with fear of God,

"The Presidential and National Assembly election had been conducted in the State, we urge the commission to redouble her effort in the coming election"

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The group added that it is a belief that Ogun REC is a God-fearing man with impeccable track record, who will not allow politicians no matter how highly placed to put his hard-earned reputation in jeopardy.

"While the last assignment of our REC in Ekiti state is being challenged in tribunal which can go either way, we are of candid view and believe that the prof cannot be said to be perfect in all respect, he must will do everything within his capacity to convince himself, his God and the good people of Ogun state that he has conducted an election which can be said to be free, fair and credible"

The group also enjoined all electoral officers not to sell their belief imposed in them by the commission.

"We also wish to advise all electoral officers not to compromise their integrity on any politician who will naturally abandon them in case of any problem. 

"We are aware some INEC officials have been jailed in Nigeria, some are standing cases in different courts, some have been sacked, some under investigation etc; obviously, some of these people are paying for their greediness or lust for money but others have been innocently fell into the trap of desperate politicians and are today facing the problem alone while the politician is already romancing another INEC official" it added.