The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) says the conduct of some key players in Thursday’s governorship re-run elections in Osun State clearly ran contrary to democratic norms, standards and best practices in the conduct of credible elections.
CDD Director, Idayat Hassan, in a statement on Thursday evening said that a number of the incidents recorded during the poll undermined the sanctity of the vote and the overall credibility of the electoral process.
“CDD frowns at the conduct of the security agents and political party stalwarts who took steps that were inimical to the conduct of a free, fair and credible election. CDD observers reported several cases of denial of access to Polling Units to observers, and even voters. CDD field observers deployed to observe the process and ensure its credibility, especially in Orolu and Osogbo LGAs, were intimidated, threatened and in some cases arrested by security forces.
“Credible reports from our field observers showed that despite being duly accredited by INEC, several of the observers and journalists were stopped from observing the process. CDD observers reported palpable tension in Ifon, Orolu LGAs due to the high-handed conduct of the security agents who seemed bent to sway the vote the way of certain partisan interests,” Hassan said.
According to her, observers who attempted to carry out their legitimate duties were arrested and taken to nearby police station and were only released after being denied the opportunity to monitor the process so as to guarantee its credibility.
She said, “For instance, a CDD observer, Kemi Busari, was arrested by the police on the pretext that he took pictures around a polling unit. The police officer’s stance contradicts the statement of INEC, which made it clear that voters and participants were allowed to go with their phones to polling units but not to polling booths after ballot paper must have been issued to an accredited voter.
“Coming as the last off cycle election before the 2019 general election, the conduct of the security forces, politicians and their supporters are sources of concern to strengthening our democratic process.
“We recommend an urgent investigation of the roles and conduct of the security forces and political thugs in the Osun rerun with a view to sanctioning infractions and preventing a repeat during the 2019 polls.”
She said the organisation strongly holds that the Thursday’s rerun poll does not meet up with the minimum standards for free, fair and credible elections, as it falls short of global best practices in democratic elections which Nigeria aspires towards.
“In terms of the sanctity of the vote, CDD observers reported over five attempts by impostors to vote with PVCs from other Wards at PU012 Olode Ward 07 in Ife-south LGA. Although these attempts were unsuccessful, they nonetheless reflect the kind of impunity, which undermines the credibility of the process.
“CDD also observed attempts by members of the security forces to prevent some voters who allegedly belong to opposition party from accessing PU012 Olode Ward 07 in Ife-south LG, even after showing their PVCs,” she said.
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