The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe (SAN), has expressed concern over the growing incidents of political violence and killings in Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
Osigwe called on security agencies deployed for the election to maintain professionalism and neutrality, stressing that their responsibility was to protect the electoral process and everyone involved.
The NBA president spoke on Wednesday in Osogbo while briefing journalists after arriving in the state with his team to monitor the election.
He said the pattern of attacks recorded before the poll had heightened concerns about the safety and credibility of the election, urging political actors to control their supporters and discourage further violence.
According to Osigwe, available records indicate that about 73 election-related violence incidents have been reported, with approximately 29 deaths recorded between May and July.
“Recent incidents in the state made it imperative that we start this election observation earlier than Saturday.
“Statistics show that there were about 73 reported election violence-related incidents. Also, one report has reported a death toll of about 29 between May and July.
“And there has been more violence, which appears to have intensified.
Unfortunately, there have been threats issued by some people. So there is a need for us to use this opportunity not only to speak against violence, but to urge those who, by their actions, will incite violence.
“From all the feedback and all the reports we have got, the violence that has taken place in Osun State and which is related to this election is not spontaneous.
“They are orchestrated; they are planned and coordinated,” Osigwe said.
He identified Osogbo and Ilesa as emerging hotspots, saying the two areas accounted for more than half of the reported incidents.
Osigwe also noted that while some of the cases had been attributed to cult activities, the reports available to the NBA suggested that political party clashes were also connected to the violence.
Osigwe said, “Most of the violence from the reports we have received, over 50 per cent of the violence took place in Osogbo, and the more recent violence was in Ilesa. So, these two places are beginning to look like two flashpoints in this election.
“We need to make that point clear that violence should not, in any form or guise, be used to intimidate voters into staying away or being disenfranchised or to cause a lack of integrity in the electoral process.”
The NBA president further appealed to personnel from the various security and law enforcement agencies deployed for the election to perform their duties without favouring any political party.
He said, “Many policemen, civil defence, correctional officers, NDLEA and other paramedics and soldiers have been deployed to Osun State.
“While we appreciate the work they are doing and the work they are statutorily required to do, we will also use this opportunity to plead with them to be neutral.
“They should only carry out their statutory duties and not use their presence to aid any party, but to ensure the security of the INEC officials and every other person, voters and every person who has a role to play in the electoral process. The whole world is watching,” he said.
Osigwe said the election should result in an outcome capable of restoring voters’ confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process and proving wrong those anticipating violence.
The Osun governorship election is scheduled for Saturday, with 15 political parties, including the Social Democratic Party, cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission to contest the poll.