Young members of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ifaki-Ekiti, Ido-Osi Local Government Area, Ekiti State, have pledged to vote for candidates of their choice in the state’s June 18 governorship election despite refusing money inducements from politicians.
The youngsters who planned the gathering to show support for Chief Segun Oni, the former governor and SDP candidate, emphasized that the people had rejected the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and that no amount of money could prevent the party from losing on election day.
Speaking to reporters, Ifaki-Ekiti’s youth leader, Olasehinde Agbede, stated that the purpose of the gathering was to remind everyone of their unwavering support for Oni, a member of the community, and to raise awareness of the need of abstaining from violence during elections.
Agbede revealed that young people in the state have made up their minds to vote for and support the SDP candidate in light of his accomplishments and record as governor from 2007 to 2010, stressing that he is still the most qualified to succeed Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
He said that the purported abandonment of the people by the administration during the last four years would mean that money and other forms of inducement would not influence the election.
In order to exercise their right to vote on election day, the state’s citizens were exhorted by the youth leader to make the most of the window now offered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to obtain their permanent voter cards (PVCs).
He asserted, “Segun Oni is the best candidate for the position because he has experience doing this and we have all seen what he accomplished as governor. On June 18, we, the youth of Ifaki as a whole and the state as a whole, declare that we will cast our votes and endorse Segun Oni. Allow our people to pick up their PVCs at the closest INEC offices so they can cast their ballots for the SDP on election day.
Let me state right away that buying votes is not going to be effective this time, particularly in light of the current state of affairs in Ekiti, where the APC and the current government do not represent the interests of the majority. The electorate has chosen to vote in accordance with their consciences this time around. This vote will be a protest against the APC’s poor leadership. It is not a good idea for anyone to try to purchase our votes with cash.
Speaking to the young people, the outgoing governor expressed his gratitude for their display of unity and promised to deliver on his promise if he were ever elected governor again.
He asked the youths to educate their friends and family members across the state on the need not to trade their votes for money, adding the election is an opportunity to free themselves from hunger and devastating poverty in the state.
