We Won’t Allow Fear, Force To Determine Osun Poll –INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured the people of Osun State that the August 15 governorship election will be peaceful, free, fair and credible, warning that it will not allow fear, force or other forms of electoral malpractice to undermine the democratic process.

INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan (SAN), gave the assurance yesterday in Osogbo during the signing of the Osun State Peace Accord by political parties and candidates contesting the governorship election.

The peace accord ceremony, organised by the National Peace Committee, brought together political party leaders, candidates, security agencies, traditional rulers and other stakeholders, who pledged to ensure peaceful campaigns and a credible electoral process.

Amupitan said the commission had so far completed seven of the nine scheduled electoral activities ahead of the election, with the conclusion of campaigns on August 13 and the governorship poll on August 15 being the remaining major milestones.

He disclosed that more than 2.3 million registered voters were expected to participate in the election, adding that INEC had extended the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) until July 31 to enable more eligible voters to participate.

The INEC Chairman, who expressed concern over security challenges, said the commission had adopted a proactive security strategy through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), with intelligence-led deployment of security personnel to identified flashpoints across the state.

According to him, about 2,000 polling units had been classified as vulnerable, with additional security personnel to be deployed to protect voters, election officials and sensitive election materials.

While reaffirming INEC’s commitment to neutrality, transparency and credible elections, he said; “We will not allow the democratic will of the people to be subverted by fear or force.”

He also announced that the commission would conduct a statewide mock accreditation exercise on August 1 to test its technology and logistics ahead of the election.

Speaking at the ceremony, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, who represented the Chairman of the National Peace Committee and former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), said the Peace Accord was more than a ceremonial exercise, describing it as a solemn commitment by political actors to peaceful conduct before, during and after the election.

Onaiyekan appealed to political parties and their supporters to conduct their campaigns responsibly, respect the rule of law and accept the outcome of the election in the spirit of democracy.

He also urged INEC and security agencies to remain impartial, stressing that credible elections depended not only on the conduct of political parties but also on the professionalism of election administrators and security personnel.

Representing the Inspector-General of Police, Assistant Inspector-General of Police Akinyele Fasuba assured residents that adequate security arrangements had been put in place to guarantee a peaceful, free, fair and credible election across the state.

Fasuba said security agencies would remain neutral while maintaining law and order before, during and after the election.

The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, also appealed to politicians and their supporters to shun violence, vote-buying and inflammatory rhetoric during the electioneering period.

The monarch reminded the electorate that political alliances often change after elections, while ordinary citizens are left to bear the consequences of electoral violence.

“Power belongs to the people. Go out peacefully, vote according to your conscience, and return home peacefully. Do not allow anyone to buy your conscience or lure you into violence,” the Ooni urged.

The event ended with candidates and representatives of the political parties signing the Peace Accord, pledging to conduct issue-based campaigns and respect the outcome of the August 15 election.

After the ceremony, Amupitan led INEC National Commissioners, directors, technical staff and the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, on an assessment tour of selected local government areas to evaluate the commission’s operational readiness ahead of the governorship election.