Osun guber: YIAGA identifies what politicians are doing ahead of election
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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