Election observers have raised concerns over the risk of violence and voter intimidation in Osun State, while also faulting the late arrival of sensitive election materials, which reportedly reached the state at about 8:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Photo of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room during a press briefing in Osogbo, the Osun state capital,
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, one of the civil society organisations observing the Osun State governorship election, has expressed concern over the tense political atmosphere ahead of Saturday’s poll.
The organisation raised the concerns during a press briefing in Osogbo, the state capital, on Friday.
Co-Convener of the Situation Room, MMA Odi, said the organisation had followed with concern reports of politically motivated clashes involving political actors and their supporters, attacks and intimidation, tensions surrounding motor parks and transport unions, allegations of political thuggery, deaths and arrests of political actors, as well as increasingly hostile rhetoric among political parties and their supporters.
According to the Situation Room, the situation is particularly troubling as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has identified 385 election flashpoints across 13 local government areas in the state as areas at high risk of violence.
The organisation also expressed concern over the delayed arrival of sensitive election materials, which it said arrived at about 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 13, following the reprinting of ballot papers to include the candidate of the Social Democratic Party.
The Situation Room stressed the need for adequate protection of election personnel, materials and facilities, citing the reported attack on the INEC distribution centre in Odo-Otin Local Government Area, during which Permanent Voter Cards and Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices were reportedly stolen.
On security, the organisation noted the heavy deployment of military personnel for the election and urged all security agencies to conduct themselves responsibly and in accordance with the law.
It also called on the police to properly document evidence of violence, electoral infractions and vote-buying, identify those responsible and share relevant information with INEC.
The Situation Room further urged political parties to refrain from actions that could undermine the election, citing allegations of political violence and rivalry between the Accord Party and the All Progressives Congress.
It called on all political parties and their supporters to support the conduct of a free, fair and credible election.
The organisation also appealed to the people of Osun State not to allow political actors, thugs or purveyors of disinformation to deprive them of their democratic rights.
“The Situation Room will continue to monitor the security and electoral environment in Osun State and will document and report incidents that threaten the credibility, peacefulness and integrity of the electoral process,” Odi said.
