All Eyes On Osun State

Six days to the 9 August governorship election in Osun State, the political atmosphere is charged and tension is sky high.

Many believe that the election, described by some as a make-or-mar situation for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, ?may go on peacefully or end in chaos if the wishes of the electorate are subverted. All the players must ensure peace prevails over chaos or bloodshed.

Although there are 20 candidates vying for the highest seat in the state, opinion polls suggest it will be a straight fight between incumbent Governor, Rauf Aregbesola of the APC? ,and the candidate of the PDP, Iyiola Omisore. The candidate of the Labour Party, Fatai Akinade Akinbade, former secretary to the state government, and former chairman of the PDP in Osun, is also expected to perform well.

The election will take place in the 30 local government areas, 3010 polling units and 3379 voting points in the state.

Apart from heavy security presence, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has also accredited 29 foreign and local bodies to monitor the election.? Many journalists are also expected in Osun, the last major election before the 2015 general elections in February.

As all eyes focus on Osun, we call on INEC as well as the security personnel to be truly independent and impartial by ensuring that the polls are peaceful and the true winner is declared.

Security personnel must not be seen as helping a particular candidate to rig the election and INEC should ensure that the wishes of the people are not subverted.

We also call on the political parties to avoid heating the polity and call their supporters to order during and after the election to avoid confrontation and bloodshed.

If all these measures are put in place The Osun election will be peaceful and credible. If not, we will have only ourselves to blame.