The National Orientation Agency (NOA) and Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) on Wednesday collaborated on a mobilisation campaign ahead of the Local Government Election in the state, billed for April 22.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the election was initially slated for May 15 but shifted to May 22 due to the Ramadan.
In his address at the inauguration of the mobilisation held at Ibadan North East hall, Iwo road, Mr Moshood Olaleye, NOA Director in the state, emphasised on the importance of grassroots governance, being the closest government to the people.
Olaleye said the collaboration between his agency and OYSIEC was to sensitise the public on the need to participate fully in the election.
He asserted that conduct of the council poll would install democratic government across the 33 local government areas of the state.
The director, therefore, urged people of voting age whose names were in the voters’ register across the state to come out on election date to exercise their franchise.
He said OYSIEC Chairman, Mr Isiaka Olagunju, and all other members of the commission were men of integrity, assuring that it would conduct a credible poll.
In his speech, the OYSIEC boss declared readiness of the commission to conduct free, fair and credible council poll that would be acceptable to all the participating political parties.
Olagunju implored the electorate in the state to perform their civic responsibility on May 22, so as to make their votes count in the process of installing democratic government at the grassroots.
He stated that the commission would remain an unbiased umpire and would not be partial.
According to him, a person whose voter card has been lost or damaged can still vote, provided such person has some specified means of identification.
“These are, driver’s licence, National Identity Card, International Passport, also people with temporary Voters’ Card can vote,” he said.
The OYSIEC boss warned that anyone who had nothing to do in respect of the election should not come near any of the polling units on the day of the election.
He said that security agents had been mandated to arrest anyone that caused trouble at any of the polling units.
NAN reports that members of the state Inter Party Advisory Commission (IPAC) community leaders, representatives of security agencies and non governmental organisations attended the event.(NAN)
