By Joshua Oladipo

Osogbo

A civil society organisation, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, has called on stakeholders in the Osun governorship election to ensure a peaceful, transparent and credible electoral process throughout the election period.

The Convener, Yunusa Ya’u, made the call at a news conference in Osogbo on Friday, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain transparency and communication throughout the election.

Ya’u and his co-conveners, Mma Odi and Celestine Odo, urged INEC to provide timely information on the security of election materials, contingency arrangements and polling locations affected by reported security concerns.

He said security challenges must not become an excuse for arbitrary cancellation, relocation or manipulation of polling activities or undermine voters’ rights and confidence in the electoral process during voting.

According to him, every eligible voter has a constitutional right to participate freely in the election without intimidation, harassment or violence, while authorities must protect voters’ rights throughout the process properly.

“We urge security agencies to ensure that voters can travel to their polling units, cast their ballots and return home safely,” Ya’u said, emphasising the need for security throughout voting.

“We also call for particular attention to women, persons with disabilities, older persons and other groups that could be disproportionately affected by insecurity,” he said.

He also urged authorities to protect vulnerable voters.

“Citizens must not allow political actors, thugs or purveyors of disinformation to deprive them of their democratic rights,” he said, urging communities to resist intimidation, misinformation and coercion throughout voting.

He also advised voters to reject violence, avoid confrontation at polling units, verify information before sharing it and report threats or incidents through appropriate channels to relevant authorities promptly when necessary.

“The people of Osun have a responsibility to protect the peace of their communities, but this responsibility cannot substitute for the primary duty of the state to protect citizens,” he said.

Ya’u added that the call covered all major stakeholders whose cooperation was essential to sustaining peace, security and public confidence throughout the election period in Osun and its aftermath.

“The Situation Room calls on the Federal Government, INEC, Nigeria Police Force, other security and law enforcement agencies, political parties, traditional and religious leaders, media and civil society organisations to maintain heightened vigilance throughout the election.

“The group will continue monitoring the security and electoral environment while documenting incidents capable of threatening the credibility, peacefulness and integrity of the electoral process during the election and its aftermath.”

Speaking on security, he said the group expressed concern over the proliferation of political thuggery and fatalities linked to political rivalry and alleged sponsorship of violence across the state ahead of the governorship election on Saturday.

Ya’u called on the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to demonstrate political neutrality and enforce the law without fear or favour while protecting all voters equally during voting fairly.

He urged the agencies to ensure that arrests, investigations and prosecutions were based on credible evidence rather than political affiliations, while upholding due process and equal treatment under law.

Ya’u, however, said the organisation would also monitor the transmission of polling unit results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) Portal, vote trading and transparency in the collation process throughout voting.(NAN)