By Emmanuel Adeniran.
File Photo
The Indepedent National Electoral Commission (INEC’s) Accredited International Observers Delegations from the United States of American (USA), United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) on Thursday September 27th, 2018 has condemned the manner in which the rerun election was held as far below the International best practices. IGBERE TV Reporter, Emmanuel Adeniran who was in Osun State for the Governorship Election Rerun witnessed the Press Briefing done by the Accredited International Observers from the US, UK and EU at the Office premises of the State Headquarters Office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Osogbo, the Osun State Capital before the Collation and Official announcements of results was done by the INEC Returning Officer and the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology in Akure.
The International Observers while reacting to the conduct of the election commended the vast majority of the voters in the State for exercising their Democratic rights peacefully and without violence.
The US, UK and EU Observers team said “in contrast to their overall findings on the voting held on September 22nd; lamented and frowned at the widespread incidents of interference and intimidation of voters, journalists and civil society observers by some political party supporters and security agencies. Many of our findings mirror those of leading civil society groups that observed the election. We commended the work of INEC leadership during both elections. But it is clear that the neutrality of the security services and responsible conduct by party agents, both inside and outside polling units, will be essential to ensure free, fair, credible and peaceful elections in 2019”.
“The International Observers Teams therefore promised to continue to call for calm from all stakeholders and urge that any challenges to the election result be made through peaceful and lawful means. They restated their position of firm neutrality among all Political Parties and Governorship Candidates as well as supporting the Nigerian people in achieving a very free, fair, credible and peaceful elections most especially in 2019”, the International Observers Team submitted.
