Rt.Hon.Jumoke Akindele, APM Senatorial Candidate, Adeolu Akinwumi express concern over cause of voters low turn out
By Steve Ovirih.
The former Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt.Hon.Jumoke Akindele has addressed the need for Nigerians to wake up to their civic responsibility of actively involving in election day voting exercise, noting that election is the representative input of voters to how their area is governed. The former Speaker gave this indication on Saturday at Unit 1, Okitipupa ward 2,Idepe Abusoro in her reaction to the by -election in Ondo South.
While fielding questions from thepolity.net, Rt Hon.Princess Jumoke Akindele admitted that the election so far has been peaceful and commended INEC for allowing the positioning of the voting cubicle at a vantage point where voters cannot be influenced by fans of any political party. She said as far as a peaceful voting process is concerned, the Ondo South by-election has gotten a strong pass mark.
She howver noted that more voters are expected more than the population that showed up, stressing that the by-election notwithstanding being a midterm circumstantial election, the people should note that their vote is their voice which ordinarily should reflect their preference for the candidate of their choice
Being specific, Akindele stated that if at all their is low voters turn out, it can only be adduced to the fact that people will rather invest more in a 4 year term tenure, stressing that even at that, the the turn out is not completely bad, advocating more voters awareness in subsequent polls.
However, in a rather different take on what could have allegedly caused low voters turn out, the Allied Peoples Movement ,APM Senatorial Candidate, Adeolu Akinwumi said while there has been low voters turn out, the reason is not far fetched. ” Nigerians are disillusioned about APC .Nigerians are not impressed about APC and its draconian style of Governance so there is lukewarm reaction from the already tired masses. People are not impressed and if they are not impressed, they would rather stay back than to come out to vote”, Akinwumi emphasized.
On the process of the by-election, Akinwumi gave both INEC and the security agents applause, saying they have acquitted themselves well in the entire process. He alleged however that there was vote inducement by the ruling party, adding that no voter should be induced to vote in any election.
Reacting to this allegation, Rt.Hon.Jumoke Akindele debunked it in its entirety, stating emphatically that if anyone alleges vote buying, such perhaps must have induced voters based on what is probably affordable for him or her.
She said as far as the ward and polling unit is concerned the voters came out en masse of their own volition to vote for the candidate of their choice. She saluted the resilience of the voters while stating that voters inducement is an unsubstantiated allegation.
