17th November, 2014
Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta
Ogun state government has warned people suspected to be thugs to desist from their action of threatening eligible voters from registering at the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration, CVR exercise in some parts of the state.
The advice came on the heel of reports that some people suspected to be political thugs who have been disrupting the ongoing exercise in some part of the state intends to cause more trouble.
The state government gave the warning on Sunday, adding that, it would not hesitate to use the full wrath of law on any arrested person desperate to cause chaos in the state.
In a statement issued and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG Barr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, the government warned that such desperate politicians should desist from such act.
According to the statement, areas such as Ijebu Ode, Ijebu Igbo, Ado Odo/Ota and Ifo local government councils were affected by the activities of the political thugs.
“Rather than cause trouble and plan to unleash terror on the innocent people of the state, all hands must be on deck to support INEC to have a successful ongoing registration exercise.
“It has come to our notice that some thugs are planning to disrupt the ongoing registration exercise. They have been going round some areas in the state to threaten people who are out to demonstrate their franchise by registering their names for the permanent voters card to be able to participate in the coming general elections in the country.
“The state government is not a coward but just trying to ensure that peace and harmony that we have been enjoying in the state since the advent of this administration continues. We should all join hands for rancour free exercise,” the statement read.
The statement also enjoined residents to use the opportunity of the two days extention of the Continuous Voters Registration, CVR exercise in the state to register their names.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Sam Olumekun, in a statement issued yesterday has announced that the registration exercise will now end on Wednesday against today (Monday) it stated before.
The Commission revealed that in view of the challenges facing people during the exercise, it decided to extend the exercise by two days to enable eligible voters register their names.
During his monitoring of the exercise yesterday in Abeokuta South and Abeokuta North local government areas of the state, Governor Ibikunle Amosun assured the people that all the anomalies observed will be looked into.
When our correspondent monitored Abeokuta metropolis Monday morning, people were already at INEC registration centres queuing while INEC officials were seen arranging their machines to commence registration of the people.
Our correspondent also observed that additional machines have been deployed to some areas within the town, this development encouraged residents to troop out en masse to register.
As at the time of filling this report, areas like Igbore, Oke Yeke, Ijaiye, Oke Sokori, Ita Iyalode, Amolaso, Ijemo Agbadu, Ake palace, Itoku and other places had begun registration of voters.