LG Polls: Oyo State Anti-corruption Agency Promises Active Involvement
The Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA), has expressed its readiness to be actively involved in the forthcoming Local Government Council election in the state, saying it won’t be business as usual on the day of the election.
The Chairman of the agency, Justice Eni Esan (Rtd), gave the assurance, on Tuesday, while playing host to the leadership of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), at the Agency, Agodi, Ibadan.
Justice Esan explained that the agency will mobilize its officers across the geopolitical zones of the state to monitor and report election malpractices that may occur and report to the agency for prosecution.
She expressed delight over the visit of OYSIEC, and noted that the collaboration would involve sensitization of Ad-hoc staff, to be engaged by OYSIEC, on the effects of corruption in the development of the nation, saying the Agency will do its very best to ensure the success of the election.
Similarly, the Commandant, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Oyo State Command, Augustine Padonu, has revealed that maximum support will be given to the electoral body of the state to have a credible and peaceful election.
Padonu noted that the Command will deploy massive personnel for the election and urged OYSIEC to assist the command with useful information. He also advised residents of the state and politicians to play the game according to the rules laid down by OYSIEC.
Speaking during the visit, the OYSIEC Chairman, Isiaka Olagunju, SAN, said the need for collaborations cannot be overemphasised, submitting that lack of confidence and voter apathy were some of the challenges confronting state electoral umpires in the country.
Olagunju called for the support of the command in the area of security of lives and property in order to have a massive turn-out on election day, expressing the desire of the current OYSIEC to have an election that will be free of intimidation and all forms of election malpractices.
He said: “Apathy and lack of confidence remain serious concerns when it comes to elections in the country. In 2021, there were allegations of election malpractice. So, we want OYACA officers to go around on election day, arrest anyone who is involved in election malpractices and report to the agency for prosecution.
“We desire to have democratically elected administrators at the grassroots. Our target is to leave a legacy that subsequent members of OYSIEC will follow. So, we need your active support to succeed. One of the reasons for apathy is insecurity, we have visited nearly all the radio stations in the state and promised residents of the state peaceful and transparent elections,” Olagunju disclosed.
The Chairman stated that the Commission needs the presence of officers and men of the NSCDC and OYACA so that people can be sure that the election will be peaceful, adding that there won’t be godfathers on the 27th of April, 2024, because everyone is equal before the law.
Olubunmi Osoteku
