The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has expressed concern over the growing threat of electoral violence, political intimidation and vote buying ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
CISLAC said available findings from independent monitoring, media reports and ongoing assessments of the electoral environment indicated a worrying pattern of violence, intimidation and alleged voter inducement.
These, it said, could undermine the credibility of the election and discourage citizens from participating freely.
Its Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani in a statement issued Wednesday noted that several election-related incidents including killings, shootings, clashes, attacks on political gatherings, destruction of property and other forms of intimidation across the state in recent months.
CISLAC noted with particular concern reports of the killing of a 14-year-old boy, Ezekiel Olapade, in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area, after he was reportedly struck by a stray bullet during a clash.
Other reported incidents include the killing of Kolade Eluyera in Irewole Local Government Area, as well as the shooting of a political office holder in Osogbo and the killing of a political youth leader in Esa-Oke.
While the circumstances and responsibility for some of these incidents remain subject to investigation, CISLAC said the reported loss of lives and increasing tensions across parts of the state demonstrate the urgent need for all stakeholders to prioritise peace and the protection of citizens.
It expressed worry about the activities of individuals and groups involved in the recruitment, financing and deployment of political thugs and other agents of violence to intimidate voters, attack opponents, disrupt political activities and influence electoral outcomes.
It warned that such practices create an atmosphere of fear and could prevent citizens from exercising their constitutional right to vote freely and peacefully.
The organisation also expressed concern over reports of vote buying and other forms of voter inducement, describing the practice as a serious threat to the integrity of the electoral process.
It emphasised that when votes are treated as commodities, the democratic process is reduced to a transaction rather than a genuine expression of the people’s will.
It lamented reports of the deployment of armed military personnel to the Osun State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the election.
It said: “CISLAC acknowledges that extraordinary security measures may become necessary where there are credible threats to lives, electoral materials or critical infrastructure.
“However, any deployment of the military in connection with an electoral process must have a clear legal and operational basis, remain strictly within its defined mandate and be guided by the principles of neutrality, proportionality and respect for the rights of citizens.”
The organisation urged all security agencies deployed for the election to operate under clear rules of engagement, respect fundamental rights and maintain professionalism and political neutrality throughout the electoral process.