A group under the aegis of Coalition of Ekiti Civil Society Organizations, COECSO, has raised an alarm over the influx of fake groups parading as representatives of civil society in the state.
This was contained in a statement jointly signed by COECSO Chairman, Comrade Timothy Idowu and Secretary, Adedeji Bukola, respectively.
The statement noted that COECSO remains the only recognized and legitimate representative of CSOs in the state and urged members of the public to verify the credentials of any organization claiming to speak on behalf of the entire CSOs.
The statement reads: “We have noted the recent public statement attributed to a group identifying itself as “The Coalition of Civil Society Groups (COCSG)” concerning the political process in Ekiti State.
“It is crucial for the public and media outlets to take careful cognizance of groups or bodies that may attempt to present themselves as authentic representatives of civil society, especially as election cycles draw near.
The Recognised Coalition in Ekiti
“We wish to state clearly and constructively that the only recognized umbrella body for non-governmental and civil society organizations in Ekiti State is the Coalition of Ekiti Civil Society Organizations (COECSO), operating under the leadership of Comrade Timothy Olasunkanmi Idowu. COECSO is the body formally registered and recognized by the Ekiti State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development (MoWASD) as the legitimate representative of CSOs in the state.
“As a genuine coalition, COECSO has made a public commitment during our official advocacy visits to bodies like Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Ekiti. Ekiti to ensure that no group or coalition not registered with and recognized by both COECSO and MoWASD is allowed to parade as bona fide CSOs in Ekiti, particularly during the election period.
“Any group operating outside of this established framework does not represent the official, coordinated voice of the civil society network in Ekiti State. We urge the public and political stakeholders to verify the credentials and registration status of any organization claiming to speak on behalf of the entire Civil Society community in Ekiti.”
