Hours before the Osun governorship election, the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has asked residents to protect their right to vote and avoid violence, as security agencies face 385 election flashpoints identified by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state.
The group made the appeal on Friday in Osogbo, stressing that voters must be able to reach polling units, cast their ballots and return home safely.
The warning comes against a tense political setting marked by reported violence, clashes, intimidation, arrests and deaths involving political actors and supporters.
The Situation Room also cited 13 of Osun’s 30 Local Government Areas as critical and high violence risk areas, based on findings by its partners, Kimpact Development Initiative and CLEEN Foundation.
Voter safety faces test in high risk areas
The Situation Room said every eligible voter has a constitutional right to participate freely without intimidation, harassment or violence. It also placed responsibility on security agencies to protect voters throughout the voting process.
Women, persons with disabilities, older persons and other groups that may face greater exposure to insecurity were listed as groups requiring particular protection.
The group’s convener, Yinusa Ya’u, said residents should not allow politicians, thugs or people spreading false information to stop them from exercising their democratic rights.
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“Voters should reject violence, avoid confrontation at polling units, verify information before sharing it and report threats or incidents through appropriate channels,” Ya’u said.
The group said residents also have a duty to preserve peace in their communities. It stressed, however, that such responsibility does not remove the state’s primary duty to protect citizens and secure the election.
The Situation Room said it had monitored several developments before the poll, including politically motivated violence, clashes involving political actors and supporters, attacks, intimidation and tensions linked to motor parks and transport unions.
It also cited allegations of political thuggery, deaths and arrests of political actors, as well as hostile rhetoric from political parties and their supporters.
The figures from INEC and Situation Room partners give the security concerns a specific geographical dimension. With 385 flashpoints identified in the state, voters in different locations may face different levels of security risk during the exercise.
The identification of 13 high risk LGAs also places added responsibility on security personnel assigned to those areas. Their task includes protecting access to polling units and ensuring that voters can complete the voting process without threats or physical attacks.
Ya’u also appealed to security agencies to apprehend people involved in vote buying without waiting for electoral officers to identify them.
He said security personnel should be vigilant and act against offenders connected to vote buying as part of efforts to protect the integrity of the election.
The Situation Room maintained that residents should travel to polling units peacefully, vote without fear and return home safely. It also asked citizens to verify election information before sharing it and report threats or incidents through proper channels.
The group has prioritised voter protection alongside public responsibility, with security agencies holding the primary duty of protecting citizens and securing the electoral process.
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