The outgoing President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe, has raised concerns over the increasing cases of political violence and killings in Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
Osigwe, who spoke to journalists in Osogbo, the state capital, on Wednesday, said he and his team were in the state to monitor the electoral process.
He expressed concern over the attacks recorded in the build-up to the election and urged political parties and their supporters to refrain from acts capable of disrupting the poll.
According to Osigwe, available data indicate that about 73 election-related violence incidents have been reported in the state, with one report putting the death toll at about 29 between May and July.
“Recent incidents in the state made it imperative that we start this election observation earlier than Saturday. Statistics show that there were about 73 reported election violence-related incidents. Also, one report has reported a death toll of about 29 between May and July.
“And there has been more violence, which appears to have intensified. Unfortunately, there have been threats issued by some people. So, there’s a need for us to use this opportunity not only to speak against violence, but to urge those who, by their actions, will incite violence,” he said.
Osigwe said reports received by the NBA suggested that the violence was not spontaneous but was allegedly planned and coordinated.
“From all the feedback and all the reports we have got, the violence that has taken place in Osun State and which is related to this election is not spontaneous. They are orchestrated; they are planned and coordinated,” he said.
He identified Osogbo and Ilesa as emerging flashpoints, noting that the two areas accounted for more than half of the reported cases of violence.
“Most of the violence from the reports we have received, over 50 per cent of the violence took place in Osogbo, and the more recent violence was in Ilesa. So, these two places are beginning to look like two flashpoints in this election,” Osigwe said.
He warned that violence must not be used to intimidate voters, discourage participation or undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
“We need to make that point clear that violence should not, in any form or guise, be used to intimidate voters into staying away or being disenfranchised or to cause a lack of integrity in the electoral process,” he said.
The NBA president also appealed to security agencies deployed for the election to remain neutral and perform only their statutory responsibilities.
He noted that personnel from the police, civil defence, correctional service, NDLEA, the military and other agencies had been deployed across the state.
“While we appreciate the work they are doing and the work they are statutorily required to do, we will also use this opportunity to plead with them to be neutral,” he said.
Osigwe urged the security personnel to protect INEC officials, voters and other stakeholders without favouring any political party.
“They should only carry out their statutory duties and not use their presence to aid any party, but to ensure the security of the INEC officials and every other person, voters and every person who has a role to play in the electoral process. The whole world is watching,” he added.
He expressed hope that the Osun election would produce a credible outcome that would strengthen voters’ confidence in the democratic process and prove wrong those predicting violence.
