An election observer group, YIAGA AFRICA has, through a programme tagged: “Watching The Vote” come up with its pre-election findings in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Osun State, identifying voters’ inducement, verbal attacks among others.
Addressing newsmen in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Thursday, Co-Chair, Watching The Vote, WTV, Osun Election Observation Mission, Dr. Aisha Abdullahi said gross violation of electoral laws, which includes inducement through distribution of items and other suspicious empowerment, characterised the political space.
She described the Osun election as litmus test for the 2019 general elections, adding that WTV would be monitoring every step of the electoral process to the extent of confirming if the results announced correspond with the voting pattern.
She added that the organisation would be deploying 500 well-trained observers to all the 30 local government areas in the state to ensure transparency and openness of the process through thorough monitoring.
Abdullahi however said the Osun political environment is intrinsically peaceful and calm, as she commended the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC)for satisfactory preparation.
“In line with our commitment to electoral integrity through the provision of citizens oversight on the electoral process, Watching The Vote deployed a pre-election observation (PREO) mission to Osun from August 3 to September 19, 2018 to observe the pre-election environment.
“Watching The Vote notes impressive level of preparations by INEC for the Osun governorship election. These preparatory activities include voter education, collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), production and distribution of voter register to political parties, recruitment and training of polling officials.
“We also observed gross violations of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended in the pre-election period by political parties and candidates in the election. Political parties were involved in voter inducement through distribution of money, gift items and other suspicious empowerment programmes.
” Cases of voter inducement and vote buying was prevalent in Boluwaduro, Boripe, Ifedayo, Ifelodun, Irepodun, Irepodun, Odo-Otin, Olorunda, Orolu, Osogbo, Atakumosa East, Atakumosa West, Ife North, Ife South, Ife West, Ilesha West, Oriade, Ede North, , Ede South, Ejigbo, Irewole, Isokan, and Ola-Oluwa.
“We also observe reported cases of violent physical or verbal attacks, vandalism or destruction of properties, inflammatory or inciting statements and recruitment of political thugs by a candidate or his/her supporters,” she said.
The group then called on the media to eschew fake news and misinformation in the public space ahead of the election, saying such could be dangerous with an attendant negative influence on political behaviour.
It however enjoined security agents to maintain utmost neutrality and professionalism in the conduct of their affairs.
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