INEC Assures Free, Fair Osun Polls Amid Protest Over REC Transfer

(The Chairman of INEC, Prof Joash Amupitan Photo by Arise News)

Residents of Osun State have been reassured by the Independent National Electoral Commissioner that the governorship election on August 15 will be transparent, credible, and peaceful.

Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, the state's new resident electoral commissioner, made the promise on Tuesday while speaking to demonstrators at the commission's Osogbo office.

Market women and a civil society organization protested the transfer of former REC Dr. Mutiu Agboke, claiming that the election may have been manipulated, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.

Babalola, represented by the Head of Legal Department, Mr Niyi Fayanju, and the Head of Voters’ Education and Publicity, Mr Rufus Ariyo, assured the protesters that their votes would count.

According to her, the commission had put in place arrangements to ensure that the August governorship election would be credible, free, fair, and conclusive.

The REC said the residents’ fear was understandable, promising that she was in the state to uphold the integrity of the commission and ensure that every vote would count.

She clarified that transfer of staff was the prerogative of the commission and that the transfer of the former REC was in line with civil service rules.

A few demonstrators who conversed with journalists said they learnt that the transfer of the former REC was politically motivated.
They advised the new REC not to compromise the process, but ensure that their votes count and not to work in favour of any political party.

Mrs Sadiat Amsat, Ms Temitope Abass, and Mrs Mary Adewale, who are artisans, appealed to INEC not to support any political party but to conduct the election transparently.

Mr Musa Abdulsalam, the Osun Chairman of the Coalition of Concerned Nigerian Citizens, who coordinated the protest, submitted the protesters’ petition to INEC officials.