The Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC) in Osun has assured residents of a peaceful, credible and transparent governorship election on Aug. 15.
The new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, gave the assurance while addressing protesters at the commission’s office in Osogbo on Tuesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that protesters comprising market women and civil society groups protested the transfer of former REC, Dr Mutiu Agboke, alleging possible manipulation of the election.
Babalola, represented by Mr Niyi Fayanju, Head of the Legal Department, and Mr Rufus Ariyo, Head of Voters’ Education and Publicity, assured the protesters that their votes would count.
She said that the commission had put arrangements in place to ensure that the August governorship election would be credible, free and fair and conclusive.
The REC said that the fear of the residents 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 the transfer of staff was the prerogative of the commission and that the transfer of the former REC was in line with civil service rules.
Some protesters that spoke 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 to 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 be transparent in the conduct of the election.
Mr Musa Abdulsalam, Osun Chairman of the Coalition of Concerned Nigerian Citizens (CCNC), who coordinated the protest, submitted the petition of the protesters to the INEC officials. (NAN)
