The Ansar-u-Deen Society in Osun State has reaffirmed its non-partisan position while receiving the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of the August 15 governorship election in the state.
The assurance was given during a meeting between the society’s leadership and the APC candidate in Osogbo on Sunday, where both electoral participation and peaceful conduct before, during and after the poll featured prominently.
Speaking at the gathering, the Secretary of the Ansar-u-Deen Society in Osun State, Hafiz Akande, said the organisation remained politically neutral despite supporting members who aspire to public office.
Akande stated, “Let me state clearly that as a corporate body, ADS remains non-partisan.
“However, the Society will never rebuke, sideline, or abandon our own who show an active interest in governance. The Society fully recognises the need to support our members who aspire to positions of authority.”
“We firmly believe that authority is a sacred trust (Amanah) from Allah, and no one attains it except by His divine permission. Therefore, it is a noble pursuit for our members to strive for leadership with sincerity and competence for the ultimate benefit of the wider society.”
Addressing the gathering, Oyebamiji appealed to eligible voters to protect the value of their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, by refusing to exchange their votes for financial inducements during the election.
He described the PVC as a constitutional instrument that enables citizens to determine those who govern them and urged residents to use it responsibly at the polls.
“The PVC is an instrument that confers the right on each person to have a say in deciding who leads or presides over their affairs for a stipulated period.
“I am appealing to our people not to commercialise their PVC but use it wisely to vote for someone who has the capacity and potential to lead appropriately,” Oyebamiji said.
