Adebayo Adenrele
…urges Accord, APC, others to respect July 30 Peace Accord
In less than 24 hours to the gubernatorial poll in Osun State, the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Election Observation Hub (EU-SDGN EOH) has identified Osogbo and Irewole Local Government Areas of the State as critical security flashpoints, while 11 other LGAs have been classified as high-risk areas.
This was revealed in a pre-election statement on the election read in Osogbo, by representatives of the Kukah Centre (TKC), TAF Africa, the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), Yiaga Africa, the International Press Centre (IPC) and the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO).
Presenting the statement were Samson Itodo of Yiaga Africa, Barrister Asabe Ndahi of the Kukah Centre, Akin Akingbulu of CEMESO, Lanre Arogundade of IPC, Brenda Anugwom of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, and Jake Epelle of TAF Africa.
According to the report, Osun State is entering election day with a high overall security risk, with the security situation requiring heightened vigilance by relevant authorities and stakeholders.
It identified Osogbo and Irewole as areas carrying critical risk, while Boripe, Obokun, Ilesa West, Ife Central, Ife North, Iwo, Ede North, Ifedayo, Ilesa East, Isokan and Irepodun were classified as high-risk areas.
The Hub said the remaining 17 local government areas in the state were assessed as having moderate or low security risks.
The organisation attributed the security concerns largely to four interconnected factors: organised political violence involving party-aligned thugs and youth groups; the unresolved dispute over control of local government secretariats; criminal elements exploiting the political environment to carry out targeted attacks; and the widespread circulation of fake news, misinformation and disinformation.
The EU-SDGN EOH said the identified risks included coordinated attacks on political party leaders and offices, shootings at multiple locations, political abductions and violent incidents during campaigns and rallies.
On this note, the Hub urged all political parties and their candidates, including the Accord and All Progressives Congress (APC), to uphold the July 30 Peace Accord and ensure that their supporters adhere strictly to its provisions before, during and after the election.
The statement read in part, “Osun State enters election day with a high overall security risk. Of the 30 LGAs, Osogbo and irewole are rated as critical risk, while Boripe, Obokun, Ilesa West, Ife Central, Ife North, Iwo, Ede North, Ifedayo, Ilesa East, Isokan and Irepodun are rated high risk, and the other 17 LGAs carry moderate or low risks.
“These risks are driven in the main by four interlinked acts of organised political violence linked to party-aligned thugs and youth groups; the unresolved dispute over control of LGA secretariats; criminal actors exploiting the political environment for targeted attacks and an active ecosystem pervaded by fake news, misinformation and disinformation. The risks involve coordinated attacks on party leaders and offices, multi-location shootings, political abductions and violence during campaigns and rallies.
“The Nigeria Police Force, as the lead agency in election security in collaboration with the Osun State Police Command, has developed an operational framework for the election, with a proposal to deploy up to 30,000 security and law enforcement personnel, including specialised, tactical and canine units.
“These personnel are drawn from Police formations across the country and complemented by support from the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigerian Correctional Service, the Federal Road Safety Corps, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, coordinated through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
“The EU-SDGN EOB is concerned about the conduct of security and law enforcement personnel, including allegations of misuse of force, police brutality, illegal arrests and extra-judicial killings These allegations have direct effect on public trust in the professionalism, neutrality and non-partisanship of the security and law enforcement agencies, given that these same agencies are expected to act impartially in securing the election and protecting the sanctity of the vote.
“The Hub calls on all security and law enforcement agencies to adhere to the code of conduct and rules of engagement for security personnel on electoral duty and urges all security and law enforcement agencies to remain highly professional, impartial, and diligent in discharging their primary responsibility of guaranteeing the safety and security of voters, election officials, the media, accredited observers and other stakeholders”.
