YAN Lagos election: Electoral Committee faults Feb. 27 polls, fixes March 6 for elections
The Electoral Committee of the Youths Assembly of Nigeria (YAN) Lagos State Chapter on Tuesday faulted the Feb. 27 purported polls and fixed March 6 for credible, free and fair elections.
The committee disclosed this at a news conference in Lagos addressed by Mr Balogun William, the Chairman, YAN Lagos Chapter Electoral Committee and Mr Akindayomi Olasunkanmi, the Ambassador, YAN Lagos State.
The umpire said that the purported election was illegally and unilaterally organised by the Chairman a three-man National Observer Panel, Mr Musbau Eshirongunjo to throw up a disqualified candidate for the position of speaker.
The committee called for the intervention of the Lagos State Government in the brewing crisis by ensuring that Eshirongunjo and his cohorts do not succeed in imposing a disqualified candidate on the Youths of Lagos State.
The youth group, who noted that the chapter wanted to defend rights of every youths in the state, said that the illegal election might wreck mayhem and cause youth unrest and chaos in the association.
The committee also urged Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq of Kwara to call the state’s Youth Ambassador, Eshirongunjo to order before setting the youth in Lagos State ablaze for violence in the light of his role in the election process.
“Above all, Lagosians are lovers of peace that embraces peace in the interest of economic growth and soundness of mind
“We believe in the principle of the rule of law, equity, justice and good conscience and all progressive youths of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The Electoral Committee as constituted declares that the selection process of Feb. 27 is void and should be discountenanced by YAN members, national leaders and the whole world.
“There shall be an election for all the qualified candidates fixed for Saturday the 6th of March, 2021,” the electoral committee said.
The committee urged the general public to shun anybody illegally parading themselves as elected leadership of the YAN, Lagos Chapter, prior to March 6 election and public declaration by the six-member Independent Electoral Committee.
The youth committee urged the general public to disregard all actions of the Chairman of the 3-man election observer panel, Eshirongunjo, and all other illegal actors.
The electoral committee said that it shall conduct a credible, free and fair election wherein the fundamental rights to vote and be voted for of all qualified candidates without fear or favour shall take place.
The group said that the Electoral Committee YAN Lagos State Chapter was constitutionally set up on Dec. 13, 2020 as enshrined in the Constitution of YAN and in consonance with the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The committee said that a candidate vying for the position of Speaker, YAN Lagos State Chapter, Mr Oluwatobi Nunayon and was disqualified for poor performance by the committee during the screening process on Feb. 12 and Feb. 13, 2021, was declared winner of the purported election.
The youth leaders said that it was illegal for an observer body to an election to usurp the powers of a constitutionally Electoral committee, saying only one member out of a 3-man observer panel carried out the exercise.
The youths said that the committee had written to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Offices of the Commissioner for Youths and Development, Chief of Staff, and the Senior Special Adviser to Governor on Youths and Social Development to observe March 6, election.
“We hereby use this medium to notify all candidates to fudge ahead with their campaigns, posters in preparation for the forthcoming elections,” the group added.
Speaking, Ms Olaitan Olawuyi, one of the aspirants who was aggrieved about the botched election, said that all she wanted was a free and fair election.
Mr Olayemi Daramola, another aggrieved aspirant for the position of Speaker, YAN Lagos State, said that the botched election was flawed with a lot of atrocities and no room was given for fairness and credibility.
