A non-partisan civil society organisation, the Osun Youth Coalition for Credible Elections, has raised the alarm over alleged attempts to compromise members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State, calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other security agencies to immediately investigate the claims.
The group warned that any attempt to influence corps members, who are expected to serve as ad hoc election officials, poses a serious threat to the credibility of the forthcoming governorship poll.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its Convener, Adeola Oyewunmi, the coalition said it had received credible information that a prominent individual in the state was allegedly collecting the bank account details of corps members with the intention of transferring money to them before the election.
The group alleged that some corps members had already begun receiving payments of N50,000, describing the development as a calculated effort to manipulate the electoral process.
“It has come to our notice that a certain rich man in Osun has been requesting for Corps members account details with the intent of sending them money to influence them during the forthcoming gubernatorial election,” the statement said.
It added, “Some Corps members said some of their colleagues have started receiving 50 thousand Naira each.”
The coalition argued that making such payments just days before a major election amounted to an attempt to buy the conscience of young Nigerians who would be entrusted with sensitive electoral responsibilities.
According to the group, “Paying members of the National Youth Service Corps the sum of N50,000 just days before a major election in the state is a clear case of election rigging and an attempt to buy the conscience of the young people who are to be deployed as polling officials during the election.”
The organisation stressed that it had no political affiliation and was committed solely to protecting the integrity of the electoral process.
“As a non-partisan organisation, we are determined to ensure that the will of the people prevails in the August 15 governorship election in Osun State. We will resist every attempt to compromise the integrity of the electoral process.”
The coalition called on the EFCC, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant agencies to urgently investigate the allegations before they undermine public confidence in the election.
“We call on the relevant security agencies, especially the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to immediately swing into action and investigate this allegation in a bid to safeguard the sanctity of the Osun August 15 governorship election.”
The group warned politicians and other influential individuals against attempting to induce corps members or manipulate the outcome of the poll through financial incentives.
“We therefore want to warn any politician or moneybags who thinks inducing Corps members to manipulate the forthcoming election will meet the Osun youths’ resistance,” the statement added.
The coalition maintained that the credibility of the Osun governorship election must not be sacrificed to vote-buying or any other form of electoral malpractice, insisting that every vote cast on August 15 should reflect the genuine choice of the electorate.
(Ripples)