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The outgoing President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe, has raised concerns over increasing political violence and killings in Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
Osigwe spoke on Wednesday in Osogbo, where he said he and his team had arrived early to monitor the electoral process following reports of violence across the state.
He said about 73 election-related violence incidents had been reported so far, with one report putting the number of deaths between May and July at 29.
Osigwe said the incidents appeared to be escalating, with threats and attacks suggesting that some of the violence was planned and coordinated rather than spontaneous.
“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.
“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,” Osigwe said.
He said the NBA’s monitoring showed that Osogbo and Ilesa had emerged as major flashpoints, accounting for more than half of the reported cases.
He urged politicians to control their supporters and ensure that violence was not used to intimidate voters or disrupt the electoral process.
Osigwe said, “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.
“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 also called on security agencies deployed for the election, including the police, military, civil defence, correctional officers and personnel of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), to remain neutral and perform only their statutory duties.
Osigwe said security personnel should focus on protecting voters, INEC officials and other participants in the election rather than aiding any political party.
He stressed that the NBA was closely monitoring developments in the state and that the conduct of security agencies would be critical to ensuring a credible election.
“Many policemen, civil defence, correctional officers, NDLEA and other paramedics and soldiers have been deployed to Osun 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.
“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.”
Osigwe said the election should produce an outcome capable of restoring voters’ confidence in the electoral process and proving wrong those expecting violence to mar the poll.
