Osun Election: Ensure credible, peaceful poll — Observers urge INEC, political parties, others

The Osun Election Civil Society Observers’ Coordination Group has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, security agencies, political parties and other stakeholders to ensure a credible, peaceful and transparent governorship election on Saturday.

The group made the call during a press conference on Thursday in Osogbo.

Addressing journalists, Comrade Femi Lawson, National Secretary, Campaign for Democracy, said the observers have reviewed preparations for the election across the state, including voter related processes, stakeholder engagements, logistics arrangements, deployment preparations and the recent mock accreditation exercise.

“From all indications, INEC appears ready for the election. We urge the electoral commission to ensure that avoidable logistical or technological challenges did not undermine the credibility of the process,” he said.

The group called on INEC to ensure the prompt delivery of sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials to all polling units, while putting practical contingency plans in place for difficult terrains and hard-to-reach locations.

The observers also expressed concern about the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, following hitches recorded during the recent mock exercise, describing the development as a warning ahead of election day.

According to the group, “BVAS devices cannot afford to fail or malfunction on election day. We urge INEC to deploy adequate technical personnel, functioning devices, sufficient backup arrangements and rapid-response mechanisms.”

The group also raised concerns about the identity and involvement of some individuals associated with the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, in the movement of election materials.

It urged all transport personnel involved in electoral logistics to conduct themselves professionally and neutrally and warned against deliberately delaying, diverting, interfering with or compromising the movement of electoral materials.

The observers called on political parties, the media and accredited election observers to closely monitor the movement of materials and promptly report suspicious or irregular developments through appropriate channels.

On security, the group expressed concern over reports of killings, attacks and other acts of political violence in parts of Osun State ahead of the election.

“We unequivocally condemn these incidents and urge security agencies to investigate them thoroughly and bring perpetrators and sponsors to justice,” the group said.

The observers also expressed concern over public statements attributed to a prominent political figure, including the reported “kill them” statement, saying such utterances could inflame political tensions and encourage violence.

The group called on the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to operate professionally and without fear or favour, while protecting voters, election officials, observers, journalists, electoral materials and the integrity of the process.

The observers urged political parties, candidates and supporters to respect the will of the electorate and encouraged voters to reject vote buying and selling, cast their ballots freely and protect the democratic process.

“No political ambition is worth the blood of an Osun citizen. The election should be a contest of ideas, records, programmes and popular support,” it added.