25th September, 2018
Ahead of Sept. 27 re-run governorship election in Osun, an election monitoring group, Kimpact Initiative Development (KID), has appealed to political stakeholders to shun violence before, during and after the poll.
Mr Bukola Idowu, the KID Executive Director, made the appeal during a press conference on Tuesday in Osogbo.
Idowu said that no development could take place in an atmosphere devoid of peace.
He urged the youth not to allow themselves to be used as thugs during the election.
“We implore all youth to please avoid being instruments to violence in any part of the state, as peace for one is peace for all.
“We request that all candidates involved in the re-run election must bear in mind their promise of ensuring a peaceful atmosphere for all, irrespective of their personal political ambitions.
“We remind the governorship candidates of the peace pledge they all signed and their promise to ensure all their followers are not going to be instruments of violence,” he said.
Idowu also appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to avoid any act that could jeopardise peace in the state.
“We request that the INEC, as the electoral umpire, remains impartial, fair, while ensuring justice in the discharge of their roles during the re-run election.
“Any act to the contrary can jeopardise the peace in the state,” he said.
Idowu also commended security operatives for ensuring orderliness and displaying high sense of professionalism during the election proper.