LG Polls: Shomide Tasks Electoral Officers To Discharge Duty Responsibly

 

Hon. Shomide (right) with the Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Gbadebo (middle) and the OGSIEC Chairman,Mr. Osibodu

ABEOKUTA - In order to achieve hitch free local government election in Ogun state, the Transition Committee Chairman, Abeokuta South local government, Hon. Ayodeji Shomide has called on Electoral Officers of the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) across the 20 local government areas of the state to discharge their duties devoid of favouritism.

Shomide stated this on Friday while receiving the OGSIEC Chairman, Mr. Babatunde Osibodu at the local government secretariat, Ake, Abeokuta.

The council boss, who pledged his support for the commission tasked the commission to be transparent and ensure the votes of the electorate are counted.

"Our support is 100% guaranteed. You don't need to appeal for our support. It is our statutory duty to ensure the safety and welfare of the electoral officers in our local government.

"Mr. Chairman, I want to assure you of Abeokuta South local government support before, during and after the elections.

"To our electoral officers who accompanied the Chairman, I want to urge you to discharge your duties diligently so as to avoid any post election crisis."

Earlier, the Egba traditional council has pledged its support for the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC), to achieve peaceful conduct at the forthcoming Local Government elections in the State.

The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo made the pledge while receiving members of the Commission, who were on a courtesy visit to his Palace in Ake, Abeokuta.

Oba Gbadebo who lauded OGSIEC for recognizing the roles of the traditional institution in the election process, called on all other traditional rulers in his domain to mobilize their subjects to go out and exercise their electoral franchise.

He therefore charged the commission to ensure smooth process of the elections.

The Egba monarch therefore prayed God to protect and bequeath members of the Commission wisdom to carry out the task.

Responding, the OGSIEC Chairman, Mr. Babatunde Osibodu, disclosed that the purpose of the visit was to seek for royal blessings and solicit support in the area of enlightening their subjects on the need to participate in the entire election process because the people respect and listen to them.

"Local Government is the closest to the people and as we prepare to elect Local Government Chairmen and Councilors, we thought it needful to respectfully ask you to use your influence to ask your subjects to come out and vote. Though we have been exploring the media for sensitization, we believe that your influence will help to further convince our people to come out and vote", Osibodu stated.

"My gratitude is to the Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland for agreeing to host us today in company of Egba traditional council and to formally inform you that we are holding the local government elections on 24th July, 2021 to elect all the 20 local government chairmen and 236 councillors all over the state.

"We are here to solicit  support of your Royal majesties so that every nooks and crannies of the state hears what we are doing on that day. No amount of publicity we can do that will be as effective as your direct message to the people, but when a royal father speaks to their subjects, they listen and take action because you're father's of everyone.

"Help us announce the date of the local government elections in the state to the people in your localties. Also, we are here to solicit your support so that the exercise will be hitch free and caution anyone with nefarious intention to stay calm."