- CDD Raise Security Concerns
- INEC Says 81.5% Registered Voters Collected PVCs Ahead Poll.
GOVERNOR Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has vowed to establish an independent commission of inquiry into reported killings and violence linked to the electioneering period, as the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), West Africa, has urged all stakeholders to ensure a peaceful, transparent and credible governorship election on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says 1.9 million registered voters have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), with sensitive election materials already being distributed across the state’s 30 LGAs.
The developments come as preparations intensify for the August 15 poll, amid concerns over security, vote buying, misinformation and logistical challenges following a court order that led to the inclusion of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on the ballot.
Adeleke Vows to Probe Violence, Killings
Governor Adeleke, speaking at a news conference in Osogbo on Friday, said his administration would constitute an Independent Commission of Inquiry immediately after the election to investigate all reported killings and acts of violence connected with the election period.
The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, addressed the news conference on behalf of the governor.
Adeleke said the commission would establish the circumstances surrounding the incidents and recommend appropriate actions to ensure that those responsible were brought to justice, irrespective of their political affiliation, position or influence.
He also said the government would establish a framework to support and compensate families who lost loved ones in the violence.
“The election will come and go, but we will remain one people,” Adeleke said, adding that the victims deserved justice, their families compassion and the people of Osun a peaceful future.
He stressed that every life lost was an Osun life and that political differences should never result in the loss of lives.
CDD Seeks Peaceful, Credible Poll
The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), West Africa, in its pre-election assessment, said the environment remained relatively calm but required heightened attention.
The assessment, jointly signed by CDD Director, Dr Dauda Garuba, and Chairman of its Election Analysis Centre (EAC), Prof. Victor Adetula, followed consultations with electoral officials, security agencies, political parties, civil society organisations and community leaders.
The organisation expressed concern over reported killings and other security incidents in parts of Osun, as well as tensions and perceived violations involving road transport workers’ unions.
Although CDD said it could not establish a direct connection between the incidents and the election, it urged security agencies and other stakeholders to remain vigilant.
It identified vote buying and voter inducement as significant threats, particularly against the backdrop of economic hardship, and called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other relevant agencies to act firmly and impartially against attempts to compromise voters.
CDD also raised concerns about misinformation and disinformation, including alleged fake INEC notices circulating on social media. It urged voters, political parties and media organisations to verify election-related information before sharing it.
The organisation called on INEC to promptly counter false information and maintain effective communication with voters throughout the electoral process.
It further urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to reject intimidation, violence and other forms of electoral malpractice.
1.9 Million PVCs Collected
INEC said 1,906,390 registered voters in Osun had collected their PVCs ahead of the election.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education, Mr Mohammed Haruna, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
According to him, the figure represents 81.50 per cent of the 2,339,233 registered voters in the state, leaving 432,843, or 18.50 per cent, yet to collect their cards.
Haruna said the uncollected PVCs had been safely deposited with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in line with INEC’s established practice.
He added that voters whose cards were damaged, defaced or lost had been allowed to apply for replacements, while 6,101 voters had obtained printed downloadable copies of their PVCs.
INEC has also published the number of PVCs collected in each polling unit on its website.
Haruna reassured political parties, civil society organisations, the media and voters that the commission was prepared to conduct a credible and transparent election.
Sensitive Materials Distributed
INEC commenced the distribution of sensitive election materials to the 30 local government areas of Osun on Thursday night under the supervision of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola.
The exercise had been delayed following a Federal High Court judgment directing INEC to include the SDP on the ballot.
The party was subsequently added to the list of 14 political parties for which ballot papers had earlier been printed, requiring INEC to produce additional ballot papers and result sheets.
By 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, buses deployed for the exercise were leaving the CBN premises in Osogbo for their assigned local government areas.
Mr Umar Mohammed, Senior Programme Manager at Kimpat Development Initiative, described the arrival and distribution of the materials as encouraging, saying there had initially been concerns that the court ruling could affect the election timetable.
He commended INEC’s deployment strategy, particularly its apparent prioritisation of distant and difficult-to-access local government areas.
Mohammed, however, expressed concern that rainfall could hamper the distribution of election materials, noting that dark clouds had gathered over the area.
Stakeholders Urged to Protect Election Integrity
CDD urged INEC to ensure timely deployment of personnel and materials and the effective functioning of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
It also called on security agencies to remain professional and impartial while protecting voters, electoral officials, journalists, observers and other participants.
The organisation said it had deployed trained observers across all 30 local government areas, with its Election Analysis Centre monitoring developments throughout the electoral process.
CDD urged Osun residents to vote peacefully and reject vote buying, intimidation and other forms of electoral malpractice, stressing that the credibility of the election would ultimately depend on all stakeholders respecting the genuine choice of the electorate.
