“It is an offence punishable for any voter on the day of the election day to canvass for votes, solicit for votes”
All Progressives Congress (APC) State Campaign Council in Lagos, on Thursday, held a sensitisation campaign on electoral laws and offences for market men and women, artisans and traders associations from markets across the state.
The sensitization program organised by the APC SCC Directorate of Mobilization at the Lagos Television Blue Roof, Ikeja, Lagos, had in attendance market leaders, traders associations and artisans drawn from markets across the state.
State Party chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, in his address, said the program was held to educate the traders on the electoral laws and mode of voting using the newly introduced BVAS technology.
He said, “This is a continuation of our engagement with the people. We are educating them on the mode of voting in the forthcoming election.
This is the first time we are using the BVAS reason we are sensitizing market men and women to know their roles and rights on election day.
We want to equip them to have pre-knowledge of what lies ahead of the election.
We are encouraging our market leaders to talk to their members, children, friends and families to collect their PVCs because without it voting is not possible.
Governor Sanwo-Olu has demonstrated good governance in all ramifications beyond expectation.
Election day is fast approaching. I pray we are alive to witness the day and we emerge victorious.
The collection of PVC remains three days to end so if there is anyone here that has not collected his or her PVC, such a person is our enemy.
If anyone did not participate in this election, such a person cannot openly complain about the government.
I, therefore, urge us to talk to our children, friends and families about the need to collect PVCs.
The number of markets we have in Lagos is a result of the creation of additional 37 LCDAs.
But the opposition is yet to come to terms with the 57 LGs which means they don’t want the head of markets in the 37 LCDAs to exist which is why we must take this project as our project.
The creation of the markets is an opportunity. This is the time to pay back the former Iyaloja General, Alhaja Habibat Mogaji.
This election is different but our logo remains the same. Go for the broom. When you get to the voting centre, if anything is not clear, ask our agents. It is no offence.”
Speaking to journalists, Director, Mobilization, Lagos State Campaign Council, Maruf Akinderu-Fatai, said, “This is a way to indirectly start that approach to the grassroots. This is sensitization for the traders.
You will recall that we have a new electoral law. We have the newly introduced BVAS. We are here to guide you properly on how to ensure that all our votes count on the day of the elections.
We will be moving to the market soon to drive our mobilization efforts. We are focusing on February 25 and March 11. If you look around the state, you will see that everybody is going on peacefully. We are not taking anything for granted.
We are everywhere working with our candidates. As we are doing this, it is important to ensure that the people vote right and adhere to the electoral law which is why we are here sensitising the traders.”
Reeling out the electoral offences to the traders, Barr Ademola Sadiq of the APC Directorate of Legal Services said unlawful possession of other people’s PVC, buying, selling or dealing in PVC is an offence punishable under the electoral law.
He said, “It is an offence punishable for any voter on the day of the election day to canvass for votes, solicit for votes or wear party symbol at the polling unit.
Impersonation or underage voting. No abusive language, no to-base, slanderous, intemperate, insinuations or innuendos or an attack on other political parties or candidates. No physical force or coercion and thuggery. No armed private security organisations or vanguard.
The wilful destruction of ballot papers or result forms or ballot boxes or other election materials. Giving voter cards to another person for use at an election.”
