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The Osun Election Civil Society Observers’ Coordination Group has called on all political stakeholders to join forces to protect democracy ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.
Speaking in Osogbo on Thursday on behalf of the coalition, Olufemi Lawson, National Secretary of the Campaign for Democracy, specifically urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political parties, candidates, and other key players to ensure the election’s success.
The coalition commended INEC for its robust preparations, including voter registration processes, stakeholder engagements, logistical arrangements, deployment plans, and the successful execution of the recent mock accreditation exercise.
“From all indications, INEC appears ready for the election. We, however, urge the Commission not to allow any avoidable logistical or technological challenge to undermine the credibility of the process,” Lawson stated.
Addressing concerns raised over transport logistics, the group specifically cautioned members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) involved in moving election materials to maintain strict neutrality.
“We have taken note of concerns raised from certain quarters regarding the identity and involvement of some individuals associated with the NURTW in the movement of election materials.
“We therefore call on all transport personnel engaged in the electoral logistics chain to conduct themselves professionally. Members of the Union involved in election logistics must not allow themselves to be used to deliberately delay, divert, interfere with, or compromise the movement of electoral materials,” the group said.
The coalition also called on the media, participating political parties, and accredited observers to remain vigilant regarding the transit of sensitive materials to various voting centres and to report any suspicious activities promptly.
Turning to security, the civil society group expressed deep concern over a worsening pre-election climate marked by reports of killings, targeted attacks, and political violence in parts of the state.
“We unequivocally condemn these incidents and urge security agencies to investigate them thoroughly and bring perpetrators and sponsors to justice,” the statement read, demanding that security personnel act professionally, diligently, and without fear or favour regardless of political affiliations.
Urging political actors to exercise restraint, the coalition emphasised that peace must take precedence over ambition, saying “No political ambition is worth the blood of an Osun citizen. The election must be a contest of ideas, records, programmes, and popular support—not a battle of intimidation, violence, or manipulation.”
The group charged the electorate to turn out en masse on Saturday to cast their ballots peacefully while strongly advising them to reject vote-buying and selling.
“Your vote is your power and your future. No temporary financial inducement should be allowed to determine the future of the state and the next four years,” the group added.
