The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, has said that it will not seek the service of the Western Nigerian Security Network, popular popularly known as Amotekun, in the conduct of the forthcoming election.
This was disclosed by the OYSIEC chairman, Isiaka Olagunju, on Thursday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Correspondents Chapel’s guest platform programme dubbed ‘Speak Out’.
The commission has concluded plans to conduct the Local Government election in April next year.
Speaking at the event held in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, Olagunju explained that the commission will not work with Amotekun but instead engage the police, army, Department of State Service, and National Security and Civil Defence Corps in the conduct of the election to avoid insinuation that might be used
He declared OYSIEC’s readiness to engage at least 18,000 personnel to ensure that the election goes as expected.
He further disclosed that OYSIEC will screen candidates of political parties soon.
“In election management, the police are key in security matters. We have visited the police, the army, the DSS, NSCDC and the Correctional Service.
“We may not engage Amotekun to avoid the insinuation that they may be used to intimidate the people. We are going to engage the police, the army, DSS, NSCDC, and even the correctional centre.
“We have over 6,000 polling units now in Oyo State, and we will have at least three people in a polling unit. So, we will have about 18,000 personnel. We will engage them and give them the necessary training,” he said.
