LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Political Socialisation And Its Effect On Osun Poll

Skewed opinions are abounded just like commendable accolades have been directed to the major players in the success of the recently concluded council polls.

It is thus rightly essential to give kudos to whom it is due, starting from the state government and its arms therein, the state electoral body (OSIEC), the political parties that participated, election observers, security personnel and the electorates who deemed it fit to troop out en masse to exercise their fundamental human right as this would on the long-run be their voice.

Political socialization took its toll as various awareness programmes embarked upon by OSIEC, Political parties, mass media and non-governmental institutions on the need for eligible voters to obtain their permanent voters card (PVC) so as not to be automatically disenfranchised, as it is their only mouthpiece to drive home their interests by electing the candidate of their choice.

And the electorates on the D-day timely arrived at their respective polling units and they quintessentially displayed high level of decency and composure.

This would have been defective if the efforts of the electoral body (OSIEC) and the security personnel deployed to each polling unit and the Police patrol team monitoring its peaceful conduct of a credible, free and fair election had not yielded results. The electoral materials and officers got to the polling unit on time and in few cases where this could not be, there is an extension in the voting hours so that none of the eligible electorate is disenfranchised.

It is however in our best interest as citizens of the state to actively participate in the political activities of our environment as it is the only ticket through which our will can be interpreted, formulated and implemented.

There is thus the need for governmental and non-governmental organisations as well as the agents of socialization such as the family, schools (formal and informal), religious centres, mass media, etc. to rise to campaign on the benefits of political participation.

These agencies need to jointly put all hands on the deck so that eligible voters of the legally recognized age range would register for their voters’ card as this would help get the better candidate of their choice into power, one that will cater for their welfare and possibly deliver on its manifestoes.

Ergo, as rightful citizens of the state, our PVC is our voice and right.