NYSC, INEC Condemns Killing Of Corps Members During Elections.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has condemned the gruesome murder of a Corps member in the just concluded Rivers State re-run elections.
He made the condemnation when he paid a condolence visit to the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier-General Johnson Olawumi at the Directorate Headquarters in Abuja alongside a team of INEC National Commissioners.
Corps member Okonta Dumebi Samuel, RV/15B/5539, was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Ahoada West Local Governmwent Area of the State over the weekend.
The INEC boss who said it is a primitive idea for anyone to claim the life of an innocent soul while undergoing national assignment added that ‘it pains INEC a lot whenever a life is lost during elections’.
He added that the synergy between INEC and NYSC has ushered in credible elections in the country which attracted commendations from a retinue of local and foreign observers.
Professor Yakubu said INEC would participate in honouring the deceased and any NYSC staff that experience electoral violence.
He also hinted that INEC would offer immediate employment to an ex-corps member, Adeigba Daniel, who served in Yobe state in year 2010/2011 and lost his sight. He said the electoral body would also deploy him to any state of his choice within the country.
In his remarks, the NYSC DG, Brig Gen Johnson Olawumi who expressed his displeasure at the unfortunate incident said since 2011, the scheme and INEC have been working tirelessly to ensure the safety of corps members on electoral assignments across the country.
He said: “It was a shame that an innocent corps member was killed; the killers will be brought to book. The 2015 general elections involved about 134,000 corps members who participated successfully. Corps members have participated in elections in Osun, Ekiti, Edo, Anambra and other states and performed excellently”.
He added that the scheme would not rest on its oars until the perpetrators of the dastardly act are brought to book.
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Barrister Solomon Selcap Dalung also bemoaned the dastardly act of killing the corps member.
“It is primitive for anybody to assume that he must shed blood before getting to power. Power is not worth the life of one single Nigerian and Nigerian politicians must respect the rule of the game”, he added.
