Presidential election: NYSC refutes withdrawal of Corps members from Imo

The Management of the National Youth Service Corps says its attention has been drawn to what it describes as misleading information trending online that Corps members have been withdrawn from participating as adhoc officers in three Local Government Areas of Imo State during Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The Scheme said for the avoidance of doubt, the existing Memorandum of Understanding between NYSC and INEC on the seamless conduct of elections in Nigeria is still on course.

NYSC said it 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.

NYSC stated that Corps members are not withdrawn from participating in the elections in some Local Government Areas in Imo State, rather, the Scheme is against posting Corpers to areas considered not safe 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 serve in such areas during the general elections.

“Prior to the 2023 general elections, the Scheme reached out to all stakeholders to provide the enabling environment for the Corps members to effectively contribute their quota during the general elections, and as such, would not endanger the lives of any of our Corps members.

“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,” it said in a statement signed by Eddy Megwa, the Scheme’s Director, Press and Public Relations.