Assurances have been given by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigeria Police that the Saturday July 16, governorship election in Osun state will be peaceful and orderly with results announced in good time even as the two organisations have deployed top echelon of their staff to supervise the election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has deployed five National Commissioners and 12 Resident Electoral Commissioners to supervise the election while the Nigeria Police has deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) who is the supervisory DIG for the South-West Geo-Political Zone, DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo to coordinate the activities of about 22,000 police officers and other ranks to Osun state for the election.

Speaking at a Stakeholders meeting in Osogbo, Osun state capital on Tuesday, INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, reassured political parties of its preparedness and that it will remain neutral in carrying out its assignment adding that the electorate will determine who wins the election. Osun election, he assured will be more successful than Ekiti election.

According Prof Yakubu, the Commission has learnt lessons from the identified issues in the conduct of the 2018 governorship election in the State, “with every election, we learn lessons and every subsequent election there is improvement on the previous election. Yes we agree that there were issues in the Osun governorship election in 2018, but we have learnt lessons from that election and that’s why this time around we are deploying five National Commissioners and 12 RECs to support the process being handled by our state office so I have learnt lessons and you’re going to see much improved process in 2022.

“For us in INEC, let me reassure political parties, candidates and the electorate that the choice of who becomes the next Governor of Osun State is entirely in the hands of voters. As I have repeatedly said in previous engagements with stakeholders, INEC will not take any action to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate. Our focus is on the processes and procedures as provided by law.

“So far, we have successfully implemented 12 out of 14 activities contained in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election. The only two outstanding activities are the last day of campaign by political parties which ends at midnight on Thursday 14th July 2022 and Election Day activities on Saturday 16th July 2022.

“The Commission has taken every step and made every arrangement for the successful conduct of the Governorship election this weekend. We held consultative meetings with political parties and their candidates. We had several engagements with the security agencies at national, State and Local Government levels.

“We consulted with stakeholders. We sought for, and received, the blessings of Royal Fathers and religious leaders. We have recruited, trained and carefully screened all categories of ad-hoc staff to be deployed to the field. All non-sensitive materials for the election have been delivered to all our 30 Local Government Area offices across the State.

“Voter education and sensitisation is ongoing. We have made arrangements for the transportation of personnel and materials to ensure that polling units open on schedule on Election Day. For a more effective supervision of the process, we are deploying five National Commissioners, twelve Resident Electoral Commissioners and many senior officials to support our State office here in Osun to deliver credible elections”.

On the storage and safety of sensitive materials for the Saturday’s election, Yakubu disclosed that arrangement has been made to warehouse it at the INEC state office, following the suspension of the long standing arrangement with the CBN. The sensitive materials will arrive in Osun on Wednesday while their distribution to the 30 local government areas would start on Thursday.

On the protracted problem of vote buying, he said “the Commission has said repeatedly that the issue of vote buying should be everybody’s concern, not just what the Electoral Commission can do, what we can do, we’ve done but ultimately it is an enforcement issue and enforcement has to be by way of prosecution.

“It is ultimately an enforcement issue and therefore a matter for the security agencies to continue to work to make arrest and prosecute offenders, we are actually looking forward to the day. We are not only concerned about the vote buyers apprehended and prosecuted but their sponsors, in most cases the vote buyers and the ballot snatchers are not likely to be beneficiaries of the election, they’re agents sponsored by some of the people, so as long as we don’t get the real big fish, so called, the problem is going to continue but we will continue to take whatever step within the law to ensure that we stem the tide.

“For INEC, it is a big issue, because each time we take steps to improve the process, there are some people use their diabolical means to subvert the process, so we are deeply concerned about the issue like every other Nigerian”.

On his part, the Supervising National Commissioner for Ogun, Ondo and Osun States, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, said that the successful conduct of the election would depend on the disposition of the voters.

According to him, upon successful completion of the Ekiti Governorship Election, all eyes and attention have shifted to Osun State, for the upcoming governorship election.

“As such, INEC under the leadership of the Hon. Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has ramped up activities in preparation for Osun Election, which is expected to consolidate and improve on the success of Ekiti Election.

Police IGP Orders Deployment of DIG, Others to Osun

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered the deployment of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) who is the supervisory DIG for the South-West Geo-Political Zone, DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, for the Osun State Gubernatorial Election. He will be assisted by 4 Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, 4 Commissioners of Police, 15 Deputy Commissioners of Police, and 30 Assistant Commissioners of Police. Adequate police personnel of the rank of Chief Superintendents of Police and below have equally been deployed for the election.

According to a release from the Force Headquarters, DIG Kokumo is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Operation Order evolved from the Election Security Threat Assessment, to ensure a peaceful and conducive environment devoid of violence and to guarantee law abiding citizens in the state of a secured space to freely perform their civic responsibilities without molestation or intimidation.

Other Senior Officers deployed are tasked with coordinating human and other operational deployments in the three (3) Senatorial Districts, thirty (30) Local Government Areas and the 3,753 polling units in Osun State. The IGP ordered deployment of the Commissioner of Police and Provost Marshall at the Force Headquarters, CP Julius Alawari to Osun State for the election, while CP Olokode Taoheed Olawale, the Osun State Commissioner of Police has been temporarily moved to the Force Headquarters until the conclusion of the election.

The IGP, who met with stakeholders in Osogbo on Tuesday 12th July, 2022, emphasized that the operational deployments are part of actions aimed at creating a conducive and enabling environment that will guarantee peaceful and proper conduct of the Osun Gubernatorial election. The IGP further noted that the personnel, comprising conventional police officers, Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Forces personnel, Explosives Ordinance Disposal Unit (EOD), Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB), INTERPOL, Special Protection Unit (SPU), Police Airwing, Public Relations Department (FPRD), as well as Police Medical Teams, will be on ground to guarantee free, fair, credible and acceptable election. In addition, five (5) Armored Personnel Carriers for patrol as well as three (3) helicopters and 6(six) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for aerial surveillance amongst other unique operational assets were also deployed.

The IGP reassured the nation and the international community that the Force is satisfactorily prepared for the election. He reiterated the commitment of the Force to synergizing with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), all stakeholders and other security agencies to protect democratic values, provide level playing field for all political actors, ensure adequate protection of voters, INEC officials, equipment, accredited observers, both domestic and international, and other key players in Osun State.

The IGP, therefore, admonished the good people of Osun State to be law-abiding and comply with the restriction of movement order which will be announced as and when due. The IGP equally urged them to come out en masse and exercise their franchise as adequate security has been emplaced by the Police and other security agencies to protect them before, during, and after the election.

Important Facts on Osun Election

Osun voters’ register has a total of 1,955,657 voters for the July 16 Osun governorship poll but INEC has distributed only 1,443,969 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) so far, though the exercise is continuing. There are about 511,688 PVCs yet to be collected. There are 30 local governments and had 3,010 polling units and 753 polling units. These are figures significantly more than what obtained in the 2018 governorship election.

Fifteen candidates are contenders for the number one seat in the state. The list include the incumbent Alahaji Gboyega Oyetola of the APC and Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). All the candidates are male. The full list of candidates and their political paries is as follows:

PARTY GOVERNOR DEPUTY GOVERNOR
A Akinade Ogunbiyi Jimoh Adekunle
AAC Awojide Segun Fakiyesi Gideon
ADP Kehinde Atanda Agbaje Claret
APC Adegboyega Oyetola Benedict Alabi
APM Awoyemi Lukuman Akinloye Adesola
APP Adebayo Elisha Akinpelu Hezekiah
BP Adeleke Adedapo Lateef Adenike
LP Yussuff Lasun Adeola Atanda
NNPP Rasaq Saliu Olatunbosun Olusolape
NRM Abede Samuel Amoo Omolara
PDP Adeleke Adedamola Adewusi Adegboyega
PRP Ayowole Adedeji Olowu Aiyedun
SDP Omigbodun Akinrinola Oni Adesoye
YPP Ademola Adeseye Stella Adeagbo
ZLP Adesuyi Olufemi Fakolade Kemi