National Democratic Institute (NDI), VoteNotFight Campaigners, USAID, UKAID, IFA cautions Osun Politicians against violence on Governorship Election.
By Emmanuel Adeniran
OSOGBO – The Nigeria’s Senior Resident Director, National Democratic Institute (NDI), Mr. Aubrey McCutcheon has enjoined the Governorship Candidates in Osun State to abide by the tenets of the pact signed on peaceful and violence free Governorship Election scheduled for September 22nd, 2018 in Osun State.
Mr. McCutcheon gave the charge on Friday at a joint press conference organized by Media Executives and VoteNotFight Campaigners on Peaceful Elections in Osun State held at Aenon Suites, Osogbo, Osun State Capital.
The NDI Director explained that, there can be free atmosphere in Osun State during and after the election only if the political actors maintain decorum and exhibit spirit of sportsmanship.
Mr. McCutcheon therefore urged the youths and the voters to hold the candidates responsible for any break out of violence after the election.
Also speaking, the CEO of Rave FM, Osun State, Mr. Femi Adefila cautioned media practitioners participating in the election to guide against hate speeches and fake news. Adefila maintained that, there can only be peaceful atmosphere if the media can be responsible in its reportage. He however reminded all stakeholders to play by the rules at this critical stage of the electoral process.
Adefila who condemned the Police invitation to the PDP Governorship Candidate in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, noted that, the criminal charge against the Candidate was ill-timed, capable of truncating the peaceful co-existence in the State.
He therefore commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his timely intervention and directive to the Inspector-General of Police to move the reported interrogation to after the election. He noted that, vote buying and selling was prevalent among all the political parties, saying such process would frustrate the credibility of the Governorship Election in the State.
He reminded the political parties and Governorship Candidates that votes buying during the election contravenes section 124 (1, 2, and 4) of the 2010 Electoral Acts which was liable to a fine of N500,000 or one year imprisonment or both.
“The objective of this event is to review the State of affairs in Osun State since our last press conference on August 30, 2018 and remind all electoral stakeholders how to act at this critical stage of the electoral process”.
“We are concerned that voters inducement or vote buying and selling is becoming rampant, especially in these last days. It is even more concerning that this is a multi-party affair that can severely undermine the credibility of the September 22, 2018″.
“We wish to remind these political parties, their Governorship Candidates and the Electorates that section 124 (1) (2) and (4) of the 2010 Electoral Act, as amended, provides that anyone who buys or sells votes during an election would upon conviction be liable to a fine of N500,000 or imprisonment for 12 months or both.”
Equally, the State Director, Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), Mr. Bukola Idowu assured that the monitoring committee of the Vote Not Fight Campaign shall ensure strict adherence of the peaceful pact with the Candidates. The KDI director therefore promised to report any incident of vote buying or selling to INEC for appropriate sanctions.
