Epe LG Elections: Alara, Wastab, Others, Call For Electoral Propriety

By _ Babatunde Kaka & Ronny Ikpoto

• The July 24 Local Government Elections will hold across Lagos State to determine candidates who will hold key offices at the grass-root level.

Alara of Ilara Kingdom, Oba Olufolarin Olukayode Ogunsanwo, as well as other prominent political figures in Epe Division have urged electorates and candidates in the forthcoming Local Government Elections to conduct themselves with the utmost propriety and chivalry to ensure a free, fair and credible election across the Division.

The July 24 Local Government Elections will hold across Lagos State to determine candidates who will hold key offices at the grass-root level, specifically the Local Government and Local Council Development Area Chairmanship positions.

Speaking in an interview with Eko Hot Blog, Engr Adebola Matomi, the Akinrolu of Epe land expressed optimism that the election will not be characterized by any unwanted dramatics.

“By all standards, election in Epe Division has always been peaceful. We are all brothers and sisters. So whether this party or the other party, we are the same. That spirit is in us in Epe. The election is going to go smoothly, and no hiccups is expected,” he said.

Similarly, Engr AbdulRasheed Shabi, President of Epe Club, while imploring the good people of Epe to turn out en masse and exercise their civic responsibility, assured the electorates that the election will not be manipulated.

“I will advise our people to come out en masse to vote our candidates all over 57 LCDAs in the state. Let’s try to abstain from violence. Go out and vote. After you have voted, go back home, your agents will be around the polling units to ensure your votes count. I can tell you today, your votes will definitely count.”

Also, Odeyemi Wasiu Tolani Ayodele, who spoke with our correspondent, cautioned the people to embrace the peaceful attitude to elections that Epe Division has become accustomed to over the years.

“People should turn out in large numbers and vote for the candidates of their choice. We have not been noted for violence in Epe Division generally. My advice to them is that we still maintain that peace that people know us for.”

In the same vein, the Alara of Ilara Kingdom, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, who spoke in an interview with Eko Hot Blog at his Royal Edifice, counselled voters and electorates to ensure obeisance to the laws and guidelines stipulated by the electoral body to avoid fomenting unwarranted chaos that could disrupt the ultimate goal of the polling exercise.

“The election has its own laws. The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission has clearly stated the rules. So we all need to first of all play by the rules. For instance, they have said that all electioneering activities must end 48 hours before the election. this is sacrosanct, and then there are also things that have been mentioned like observing the Covid protocols and measures when the are coming to the polling booths. they must also obey this.”

“There are also various penalties for those that may want to foment trouble. those that may want to grab ballot boxes, those that may want to cause violence and chaos in various polling booths. They should have a rethink because I’m aware that the state government and by extension, the law enforcement agents. they have put necessary measures in place to ensure a peaceful election.”

“My appeal is to all our people, those that are eligible to vote is that it is a golden opportunity for them to vote for the candidates of their choice. If you stay away, if you don’t come out en masse to vote, then the kind of governance that you want. Governance starts at the grassroot level. This is an election of the grassroots, so they need to ensure that they come out to exercise their franchise to select the people that will be there councillors, as well as the chairman and the vice chairman of the Local Council Development Area and local government as well.”

“It is a very serious matter that should not be taken with levity. I will enjoin everybody to come out en masse on the 24th of July to exercise their rights by voting the candidates of their choice and making sure they put up an eagle’s eye that day to ensure that their votes count.”

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“I also want to implore all those that are contesting to ensure that the rules and regulations that has been laid down by the Government through the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, should stand and that they obey every aspect of it so that they will not be disqualified.”

Alara also congratulated the winners in advance. He entreated them not to jettison the campaign promises made to the electorates while canvassing for the public’s support, but to ensure that they serve with exemplary leadership with the knowledge that “one good term deserves another.”