PRESS RELEASE: Osun Governorship Election: TMG Urges Voters To Turn Out En Masse To Cast Ballots •Urges Politicians To Shun Violent Rhetoric A word for Osun voters With the official end of campaigning period, and all now set for the governorship poll in Osun come Saturday August 9, 2014, the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) wishes to call on all eligible voters in Osun to come out en masse and cast their votes for their preferred candidate on Election Day. Democracy affirms the right of the people to freely elect those who will govern them; this is an inalienable right that is guaranteed by the supreme law of the land and other international instruments. We therefore urge Osun voters to be peaceful in their conduct, and exercise their franchise with a realization of the scared mandate they have in their hands. We also call on the people to vote according to their conscience, while shunning groups that may be attempting to sway or induce them to sell their votes. Your vote is your power, and it must be used judiciously to enthrone a government that will be responsive to the wishes and aspirations of you, the people. TMG in partnership with other civil society organizations will be deploying around 1000 observers to put an eye on Saturday’s election. Osun and the turbulent 2007 elections The TMG is not unmindful of the volatile character of the last governorship contest in Osun, where outright violence, and all forms of subterfuge were used to undermine the will of the people. The judiciary eventually intervened to right the wrongs perpetrated at the time. It has become customary for us to admonish contestants in all elections that they must begin to imbibe the spirit of true sportsmanship as they play politics. However, it would seem that the political gladiators have failed to learn from the crucial lessons about how belligerent electoral competition is capable of inflicting untold hardships on the very people the politicians aspire to govern. The atmosphere in Osun has been charged by violent and inciting accusations between the political parties. This is not the spirit of electoral competition which we have been tirelessly advocating for. It is however not too late to shun divisive and inciting rhetoric. TMG wishes to use this opportunity for the umpteenth time to call on the political gladiators to eschew all forms of violent speech, as well as other forms of reckless posturing capable of disrupting the peace before, during and after the elections. If truly the people are the motivating factor for the aspirations of the politicians, then the desperation, as well the rancorous manner with which they have always approached electoral contests here would not be necessary. TMG therefore appeals to the politicians to play by the rules and ensure that their actions and utterances do not become tinder boxes that would cause explosions and crisis. TMG has observed that the two major political parties, the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are vigorously campaigning for votes. On the other hand, while there are 20 candidates registered to contest the election, the majority of the candidates appear not to be engaged in serious campaigning. Whether such candidates are in the race to win the election or for some other reasons is a matter of conjecture. Multiplicity of candidates gives rise to logistic challenges during elections. TMG advises Nigerians not to put up their names as candidates for election for the sake of it. While all eligible Nigerians have the right to contest elections, the process should not be trivialized or used for improper purposes. INEC’s roles Given the significant improvement experienced in the way and manner the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) superintended the process during the governorship election in Ekiti, we call on the electoral umpire not to rest on its oars. We believe the Osun election can, and it should be an improvement on the commendable gains in Ekiti. Delivering a free, fair, safe and credible election is important to Osun’s local democracy and to Nigeria’s international reputation. We encourage support for those working to achieve that goal, such as the Independent National Electoral Commission, multi-party liaison committees, the police, media and other stakeholders. Expected roles of security agencies Security agencies should be impartial and neutral in the discharge of their duties during the election. They have a duty to ensure that the election is conducted according to law, and that INEC officials, election observers, and other persons involved in the election as well as voters are protected from electoral violence. In any case, on no account should security personnel take over or participate in the conduct of the elections. We call on the Police Service Commission to put in place appropriate mechanism for monitoring the roles of security agencies during the election. As deterrence to those forces that might attempt to subvert the electoral process, we appeal for even and significant presence of law enforcement agents across the state on Election Day. An even spread of officers across the state on Election Day will not only keep elements bent on fomenting trouble at bay. It will give voters the required confidence and sense of security needed to go out on Election Day to cast their ballots. From our observation of past elections, one important point on Election Day security to be stressed is the need to discourage government or party officials moving in convoys or blaring sirens during voting hours. Apart from distracting voters and creating a sense of panic, these movements contravene the orders restricting Election Day movement, while also creating rowdy scenes that could undermine the voting process. However, while we call for security, we urge the authorities to find a balance, in order not to militarize the electoral environment, in a manner that will scare voters away from the polling units. Long Live Nigeria! Signed Comrade Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi Chairman, Transition Monitoring Group
Posted on: Fri, 08 Aug 2014 20:59:48 +0000
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