Countdown to the 3 February Akoko North East/ Akoko North West Federal Constituency bye election, the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) and Hon. Olalekan Bada Campaign Organisation have invited civil society organisations and election observers in the country to come to Akoko and monitor the election.
Hon. Olalekan Bada is the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) standard bearer in the 3 February bye election.
The campaign Organisation stated this in a statement issued in Ikare and signed by its Director Media and Publicity,Prince Oluseyi Sanni in Ikare on Sunday.
According to him, monitoring the bye election in Akoko would confirm to the CSOs whether the nation’s democracy is actually developing or not.
He said it would also afford the civil society organisations the unique opportunity to monitor first hand how political office holders abuse their positions and institutions.
“We learnt the embattled Minister of Interior Mr. Bunmi Tunji – Ojo allegedly invaded Victory College Ikare venue of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election with men and officers of the paramilitary organisations under his ministry, there is a strong likelihood that he may want to repeat the feat again, we invite all patriotic Nigerians to take interest in this bye election.
“We also invite foreign observers and election monitoring groups to stop over and see things for themselves. We want them to come and confirm how tax players’ money is being used to pursue personal interests and how government officials are trying to militarise the political environment”, he stressed.
Meanwhile, as the countdown to the 3 February Akoko North East/ Akoko North West Federal Constituency bye election draws by, the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) has also challenged the standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr. Ife Ehindero to a public debate on who should represent Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency in the 3rd February ,2024 scheduled bye election.
Prince Sanni in a statement issued in Ikare Akoko said the proposed debate would give electorates in the constituency the opportunity to assess candidates aspiring to represent constituency.
“We are confident that a public debate where aspirants would have the opportunity of stating services rendered to Akoko in the past and what he intends to do if given the mandate and constituents having the opportunity to ask questions from the candidates would be a veritable ground for electorates to make an informed decision on who is better prepared for the job”,he said.
The Director , Media and Publicity said as part of the Social Responsibility programme of the Adekunle Ajasin University,Akungba, the University’s Department of Political Science could help organise the debate.
According to Prince Sanni, representatives of the organised labour, Civil Society Organisations,market women organisations and students among others should be invited to listen to the candidates.