The leadership of POCAF Patmos Onward Cares Foundation, an arm of Civil Society Network for Peace and Restoration, has been commended for putting up a campaign on One Man, One Vote ahead of the Local Government Councils Election in Oyo state.
The Chairman, Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju, SAN, gave the commendation at Stakeholders roundtable of the group, tagged “One Man, One Vote ” held at Egbeda Local Government, Ibadan.
Delivering his speech at the event, Aare Olagunju , represented by OYSIEC Commissioner, Chief Kunmi Agboola, implored members of the group not to limit their campaign to Egbeda Local government but extend it to all the thirty-three (33) local government Councils of the state.
Olagunju reiterated that one man, one vote remains the only way to choose a credible candidate to lead, adding that vote trading is amounts to buying the destiny of the people and perverting their wishes.
He advised members of the association to endeavour to engage the candidates to know the quality of services, representation, and care they can offer before campaigning on their behalf.
The OYSIEC boss thereafter assured the group of Commission’s collaboration and participation to ensure the success of the programme.
Olagunju said:” It is our onerous duty to ensure that voting in all the Local Government areas of the state is credible, fair, free, and the results acceptable to all and sundry. As a Commission, we are delighted to be part of your programme and assure you of our collaboration to ensure the success of your programme not in this local government alone but in all the 33 Local Government Areas of Oyo State.”
“Vote buying and selling denigrates people choices and proclaims bias in choosing best hands to lead the populace.It is a bad omen for credible elections and negatives right of individuals to make his or her choice and as such a way of inducing the heart of people.
“I suggest that you should engage the candidates to determine the quality of service, representation, and care which they can offer. It is when you are convinced about a candidate that you should mobilize votes for him or her ”
” I so much appreciate POCAF for organizing this Stakeholders Roundtable on One Man, One Vote programme at this time to address this canker worm of vote trading that has eaten deep into our election system which continues to give candidates must win syndrome. I believe that if every organ of government and social organisations tackle it head long, I think we will get there one day,” Olagunju opined.
