By Mufta’u Balogun
A civil society organisation, the Centre for Democracy and Development, said its findings revealed that the conduct of the governorship rerun election in Osun State ran contrary to democratic norms and standards.
The CDD said that a number of the incidents recorded during the poll undermined the sanctity of the votes and the overall credibility of the electoral process.
Director, Idayat Hassan, the civil society group frowned upon the conduct of the security agents as well as political parties’ stalwarts who took steps that “were clearly inimical to the conduct of a free, fair and credible election.”
The group said its observers reported several cases of denial of voters’ access to the polling units and tension in Ifon and Orolu Local Government Areas “due to the high-handed conduct of the security agents who seemed bent to sway the votes in the way of certain partisan interests.”
The CDD said, “At Ajegunle Roundabout, which leads to Polling Unit 003, Ward 9, in the Orolu LGA, security personnel mounted barricades to obstruct observers and deny them access to the polling unit. Observers were arrested and taken to a nearby police station. A CDD observer, Kemi Busari, was arrested by the police on the pretext that he took pictures around a polling unit.
“CDD also observed attempts by the security forces to prevent some voters who allegedly belong to an opposition party from accessing PU012 in the Olode Ward 07 in Ife-South Local Government Area, even after showing their PVCs.”
“Also, despite all efforts by INEC and civic groups to ensure violence-free polls, some political actors mobilised thugs and hoodlums to intimidate voters, journalists and observers. Our observer also reported that election was disrupted in PU 17, Ward 5, Osogbo LGA as a result of sporadic shooting by some hoodlums. In terms of the sanctity of the vote, CDD observers reported over five attempts by impostors to vote with PVCs from other wards at PU012 Olode Ward 07 in the Ife-South LGA.
“In the light of these anti-democratic acts, which have undermined the sanctity of the ballot, therefore, we hold strongly the view that the rerun poll of Thursday did not meet up with the minimum standards for free, fair and credible elections. It falls short of global best practices in democratic elections which Nigeria aspires towards.”
