Ramadan: Oyo REC tasks INEC Staff on compliance with Electoral guidelines

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State, Barr Mutiu Agboke, has tasked the staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct themselves according to the guidelines and regulations in the electoral law as the commission prepares for the 2023 general elections.

Agboke made the statement in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, during the 6th Ramadan lecture, themed: ‘Roles of Citizens Towards 2023 General Elections’, organised by the commission.

PENALTY FOR VIOLATION

He admonished the staff against conducting themselves in a way that was not in tandem with the law, saying violating the electoral law guidelines would attract two-year imprisonment or N500,000 fine.

Agboke stated: “INEC should do the right thing towards and during the election by deploying early and conduct themselves well.

“Security agencies, too, should partner with the commission’s arrangements to have a credible outcome on the election days.”

The REC further called on all stakeholders in the electorate, security agencies, political parties, and politicians to follow the dictate of the electoral law as it concerns them; so that the 2023 general elections would be a success.

THE IMPORTANCE OF RAMADAN LECTURE AS A PRECURSOR TO THE 2023 ELECTION

He disclosed, “the Ramadan lecture is important because 2022 is a precursor to 2023 and now is the period to arrest the mind and consciousness of the people.”

He noted that the commission believed it could utilise the opportunity of the month of Ramadan to talk to people and major stakeholders, such as politicians, the media, INEC, and political parties.

Agboke explained: “It’s because of the things we have missed in our preparations for the elections that we take everything for granted.

“We assume we have carried out the survey and perfected the arrangement. We don’t look at the spiritual angle of addressing the mindset of the people, the outcries of the people, the way they do things and prepare for the election.”

In his lecture, an Islamic Cleric, Alhaji Sheu Usman, said every Nigerian contributed one way or the other to the nation’s woes. He said Nigerian politics had become monetised as only the highest bidders get to political positions.

Usman urged citizens not to collect money in exchange for their conscience during elections but to remain resolute and vote for people that can perform.

He also implored political leaders not to use money as a criterion for giving party tickets to candidates, while admonishing INEC staff to remain neutral and unbiased in carrying out their constitutional duties during elections.

E/Suzan O.