BENIN — YOUTHS of various communities across Akoko-Edo Local Government Area in Edo State have been  urged by the Afenmai Youth Council (AYC) not to allow themselves to be used as thugs in the Assembly re-run election slated for 22nd of this month by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

AYC in a statement titled: “Show of Shame in Akoko-Edo regrettable,” and signed by its President, Comrade Sani David, advised the youths to be responsible, asking them to shun a party that “is desperate and relies solely on rigging.”

AYC said “on Saturday, August 8, 2009 members of the party from across the state came to Ibillo, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area for a jamboree. It was in the name of flagging off campaign for its flag-bearer, in the Assembly re-run election declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to hold on the 22nd of this month.

“It was a show of shame for the party to be booed by the people of Akoko-Edo over the distasteful Aiyegunle/Ibillo Road on that fateful Saturday.

“The party thinks it would win the re-run in Akoko-Edo North Constituency, they probably read the political barometer wrongly because, the people are yearning for a change, and they are not willing to be used again in spite of their allure of money”

AYC called on the people of Akoko-Edo North to remain vigilant and resist any malpractices.