The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency bye-election,
Hon Olalekan Bada has asked civil society organisations and election observers in the country to come to Akoko and monitor the election in the interest of transparency.
Hon Olalekan Bada campaign organisation, in a statement by its director of media and publicity, Prince Oluseyi Sanni, said monitoring the by-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 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.
The PDP candidate also challenged the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Mr. Ife Ehindero, to a public debate ahead of the Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency election.
Sanni said the proposed debate would give electorates in the constituency the opportunity to assess candidates aspiring to represent them.
“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 media director of the campaign 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 Sanni, representatives of the organised labour, civil society organisations, market women organisations and students among others should be invited to listen to the candidates.
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