By DAYO JOHNSON
AKURE— AN appeal has gone to Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to shift the October 20 date fixed for the governorship election in Ondo State.
The muslim community in state made the appeal in Akure, saying that holding the election on that day would disenfranchise many of the muslim faithful who will partake in this year's hajj in Saudi Arabia.
The co-chairman of the state chapter of Nigerian Inter-Religious Council, NIREC, Alhaji Ibrahim Omoloja, said a letter had been sent to INEC national headquarters on the request.
Omolaja, while speaking at the quarterly meeting at NIREC said, "We are seizing this opportunity to appeal to INEC to act fast on our letter which had since been sent to it and duly acknowledge so that our members who would perform this year's hajj will participate in the election.
"The election, if allowed to go on as scheduled, will definitely disenfranchise many muslims which will not be too good."
He, however, call on media professionals in the state to be cautious, ethical and refrain from sensational reports that could create tension as the state prepare for the governorship election.
Meanwhile, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr. Akin Orebiyi, had stressed the need for the establishment Voter-Education Club in secondary schools in the state.
Orebiyi, who spoke at a workshop organised by INEC in the state, said the forum would serve as a prelude to the development of a comprehensive curriculum for the teaching of voter-education subject in secondary schools.
The workshop, tagged, "Catch them young for Democratic Governance" according to him, was organized to bring necessary public enlightenment on democracy and civil governance to the youths.
He said principals of all the 330 secondary schools in the state and the leadership of the various political parties in the state were participants at the workshop.
The Commissioner for Education Mr. Remi Olatubora, said voter education was very crucial to democracy and commended INEC for its initiative which according to him would strengthen democratic institutions in the nearest future.
Vanguard Nigeria