By Akinwale Kasali
The Management of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has debunked reports that 100 Corps Members in Imo State, have withdrawn from participating as Ad-Hoc Staff in the General Elections which begins Saturday, February 25, 2023, with the Presidential and National Assembly Elections.
Eddy Megwa, the Director of Press and Public Relations of NYSC, in a Statement described the news as “misleading information”.
Megwa said the signed Memorandum of Understanding between the scheme and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was still on course.
He said:
“The attention of the Management of NYSC has been drawn to a misleading information trending online that corps members have been withdrawn from participating as adhoc officers in three Local Government Areas of Imo State during Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the existing Memorandum of Understanding between NYSC and INEC on a seamless conduct of elections in Nigeria is still on course.
“NYSC scheme is in total support of the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in the country.
“All the trained Corps members in every state of the Federation are set for the general elections.”
According to the statement, the NYSC is not against fielding Corp members to participate in the elections, but would not post members to areas considered to be flashpoints.
The NYSC, called on members of the public to disregard the information, as it was meant to undermine the image of the scheme.
“The Management of the scheme wants to state categorically that corps members are not withdrawn from participating in the elections in some local government areas in Imo State, rather, we are against posting Corps Members to areas we consider not safe for them owing to insecurity.
“Before now, there are some local government areas in Imo State considered as flash points and therefore, the scheme cannot allow corps members to serve in such areas during the general elections.
“Consequently, corps members cannot be posted to such flash points to serve as INEC ad hoc staff. We have clearly made our position known to the REC in Imo State.
“Members of the public are hereby enjoined to disregard the misleading and baseless online information meant to undermine the integrity and image of the Scheme.”
