From James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta
Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has charged all political parties and their candidates to shun any act that can disturb the peace currently being enjoyed in the state as the 2015 general elections approaches.
Amosun, made call at an interactive stakeholders’ meeting organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abeokuta as part of awareness programme on the planned distribution of Permanent Voter’s Card/ Continuous Voters’ Registration scheduled to commence in Ogun State from November 7, 2014.
He warned all aspirants and their supporters on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to desist from causing mayhem during the build up to the 2015 general elections.
He said, “Nobody benefits in the atmosphere of violence. All political parties should create level playing field for all their aspirants.”
“Whoever is chosen is our candidate, I want to admonish us to support the person. We should not indulge in any violence. We should demonstrate to other states in Nigeria that we are truly Ogun state and we should set standards for others to follow.”
He appealed to all people in Ogun State go out en-mass when the two-in one exercise commences on November 7, saying that that it is the only way that will guarantee their franchise during elections.
Speaking at the forum, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ogun State, Mr. Sam Olumekun said the commission is leaving nothing to chance in its planning and working assiduously to make the 2015 elections the best ever in the history of the country.
“Having set the benchmark in the recently concluded governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, our intention is to make the 2015 elections not only free and credible but generally acceptable,” he said.
The INEC boss in Ogun State noted that the stakeholders’ forum was to sensitize politicians and members of the public on the impending distribution of permanent Voters Cards, which would be closely followed by the continuous Voters registration exercise.
The REC who noted that the exercise was not a fresh one said that registration was targeted at persons who turned 18 years since the last registration and have not been registered, stressing that “INEC in Ogun State is ready for the two-in one exercise. “We have equally recruited all the necessary ad-hoc staff and have adequately trained them.”
He enjoined all political parties, civil society organizations, Labour Unions ,traditional rulers, religious leaders and all relevant organizations to support the INEC by enlightening and mobilizing the citizenry for the distribution of permanent voters cards and continuous Voters’ registration.
“Let me state emphatically that the desire of the Commission is to enable all eligible voters vote during the forthcoming general elections and ensure that voters are not denied the chance of electing the candidates of their choice for any elective office” Olumekun said.
He cautioned the people against multiple registrations, saying that “this is a punishable electoral offence.”
