The Woman Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lagos State, Mrs Jumoke Okoya-Thomas, has advised party supporters, especially women, to be vigilant and protect their votes during upcoming general elections.
Okoya-Thomas, a former federal lawmaker, gave the charge on Thursday in Lagos, in a statement issued by her media officer, Mr Oladipupo Awojobi.
According to her, voters should ensure their votes are counted and the results declared in their presence at the 8, 464 polling units and 245 wards in the state.
She said: “The electorate in the state, especially women, should protect the ballot boxes against ballot box snatchers.
“We will not allow any unscrupulous element to tamper with the will of the people or threaten our democracy through snatching of ballot boxes and hooliganism.
“I want to appeal to women and all the residents of Lagos State to come out en masse to cast their votes for the APC and ensure that they stay behind until the votes are counted at the polling booths.”
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The women leader urged Nigerians across political divides to discourage any act of vandalism or disruption of the electoral process.
She urged party loyalists to expose anyone that tried to scuttle the exercise in their areas.
“All hands should be on deck to ensure that the country moves to the next level and that President Muhammadu Buhari and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo are returned to continue their good works.
“Moreso, let us vote for APC candidates for the Senate, Federal House of Representatives in the state so that they can continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to the residents,” she said.
Okoya-Thomas said that democracy had come to stay in Nigeria and the APC was aware of the antics of the main opposition party, PDP, to manipulate and scuttle the forthcoming elections.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Presidential and National Assembly elections earlier slated for Feb. 16 was postponed and rescheduled for Saturday, Feb. 23.
The Governorship, house of assembly and the FCT Area Council elections earlier slated for March 2 was rescheduled for March 9.
