Tag: elections

In Osun State, the political atmosphere is tense but concerned stakeholders are exploring and advancing ways of ensuring a peaceful governorship election in the state, reports Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, who felt the pulse of the people this week when he visited Osogbo, Osun State capital this week for a pre-election sensitization workshop 

As the 19 participating political parties in the Osun State governorship election flag-off the last lap of their campaigns ahead the August 9, 2015 governorship election, stakeholders and concerned observers are worried over the tensed political atmosphere in the South-West state.

This is because actions and the body language of the principal actors, especially that of the leading candidates, almost suggest preparedness for violence. But The Nation learnt in Oshogbo that elders, officials and other concerned stakeholders are working hard to ensure free, fair and violence-free election.

Observers said the tension may be attributed to the large number of candidates and political parties angling to take over the  Government House in Oshogbo.

As at this weekend, there are indications that not less than 19 governorship candidates have been cleared to contest the August 9, 2014, Osun governorship election.

Some of the candidates include, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Iyiola Omisore of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Fatai Akinbade of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Olusegun Akinwusi of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Niyi Owolade of Accord Party (A), Adeoye Adeyinka of AA, Senator Sunday Olawale Fajinmi of AD, Prof. Akintunde Adebimpe Adetunji of APGA, Alhaji Rafiu Shehu Anifowoshe of CPP, Ganiyu Abiodun Lawal of PPA, Adeoti Ibrahim Abiodun of UPN amongst others.

“Though we all expected issue-based campaign, given the large number and the quality of the aspirants, we are worried because what we are seeing today are more of character assassination and tendency to be violent,” said Muyiwa Olatunde, a teacher and social analyst in Oshogbo. Olatunde said “as a result of what we are seeing, we are afraid of what will happen during the forthcoming election.”

So, as at Thursday, July 17, 2014, when the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs organised a well attended Osun State Governorship Election Sensitisation Workshop at Leisure Spring Hotel, Oshogbo, some of the governorship candidates present, while pledging their willingness to ensure peaceful election in August, accused the two leading candidates, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of APC and Senator Iyiola Omisore PDP, who were personally absent, of being responsible for most of the reported cases of violence so far.

They accused the top candidates of deploying armed thugs, sharing money to buy support and making reckless utterances calculated to heat up the polity.

As would be expected, the major speakers at the seminar highlighted the evils of violence in the polity and advised all to eschew violence in the interest of the state and the people.

The convener, Senior Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs (SAP-IPA), Senator Ben Obi, emphasised the fact that all well-meaning Nigerians should be the most concerned when the electoral environment is over-heated by aggressive and provocative language, threats and other forms of intimidation. He concluded by saying, “Osun State, all eyes are on you to address the tense political atmosphere and eschew political infamy.”

The chairman of the workshop, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (Rtd), in his speech read on his behalf by a representative, observed that “a country cannot be truly democratic until its citizens have opportunity to choose their representatives through elections that are free and fair but we are all aware that the public expectations are on the low side as they are wary of political parties and politicians.

In his key-note address, the Vice President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Issa Aremu, called on Nigerian politicians to de-emphasize personalities and elevate ideas, adding, “Let’s have a healthy debate about fixing electricity, reviving the railways and repositioning our foreign policies instead of throwing missiles at each other.”

The Guest Speaker, Prof. Kayode Soremekun of the Department of Political Science and International Relations, Covenant University, Ota, in a paper entitled, “From Maigad to Megida: Violence as the Nemesis of Electoral Politics in Nigeria,” observed that “it seems as if violence as a weapon of political redress against electoral fraud is becoming a cataclysm in Nigeria politics.” He therefore said: “One of the ingredients of development is the existence of an acceptable means of leadership succession. Indeed, the perception of political competition as a zero-sum game is an evidence of underdevelopment.”

In his contribution, Dr. Yunuso Tanko, the Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council identified three issues he described as fundamental to the achievement of peaceful election. First, “if you want peace, make sure you give peace. The second is that our political leaders must learn to consult widely to carry the people along and finally, “please, do not be greedy.”

Other speakers, who spoke in the same fashion include: INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, and Head of Political section of the European Union, Paul Edwards. While Jega, in a speech read by his representative, said if candidates, parties and their agents abide by existing electoral rules, elections would be free, fair and violence-free, Edwards said “democracy is a journey, a journey that never ends,” adding that “Osun election will be another step in this journey.” The diplomat however warned that in Osun election, whoever gets into power, the winner must be the people, for in democracy power belongs to the people.”

Part of the 8-point resolutions of the workshop, according to a communiqué, signed by all the political parties include: That pre-election sensitisation workshops have continued to be veritable platforms for inter-party interactions, concretizing the ideals of democracy and achieving the objectives of free and fair elections in Nigeria; that politicians and public office seekers should know that in any election, the people should be the ultimate winner and so the gubernatorial election in Osun State should demonstrate that forthcoming election should advance the process of democratic process; that there is the need to avoid over-heating of the political atmosphere by shunning aggressive and provocative language, threats and other forms of intimidation; that ideas, not just personalities should reign supreme in political discourse in Osun State; that adequate security be provided during the election period to prevent election mal-practices and ensure that voters exercise their civic duty without let or hindrance….”

Even before the July 17 workshop, elders, agencies and other stakeholders, who had expressed concern over the signals that all may go awry have called on all the candidates and the participating political parties to exercise caution and ensure peaceful election.

For example, shortly after the recent violent attacks between individuals alleged to be APC and PDP supporters in Ile-Ife, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, called a press conference in his palace where he handed down stern warning to all political actors in the forthcoming election “to eschew acts capable of breaching the peace of the ancient town.”

At the conference, Oba Sijuwade, who spoke through the Obalufe of Ife, Oba S. F Omisakin, said “the attention of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, has been drawn to the recent waves of violence orchestrated by politicians in some areas in Ile-Ife”.

According to him, “landlords and tenants, residing in Ile-Ife and its environs, are hereby enjoined to embrace peace in the conduct of their political activities. Political parties concerned are advised to refrain from violence and play politics in the most peaceful style of Chief Obafemi Awolowo of the blessed memory”.

The royal father also said:”Ooni remains committed to Ife sons and daughters, who have been contributing both in cash and kind to the progress and development of Ile-Ife, but says capital NO to violence, political thuggery as miscreants, lawless and political thugs shall be handed over to the law enforcement agencies”.

He added: “Senator Iyiola Omisore, Rauf Aregbesola, Fatai Akinbade, Segun Akinwusi and others contesting the governorship election are all my sons,” adding, “I have no preferred candidate among all the candidates’ they are all my children. There is none of them that would emerge as the winner that can neglect Ile-Ife, this is because they are all from the source”, he said.

Other stakeholders and the actors have spoken in similar fashion. For example, the All Progressives Congress (APC) recently said it would do everything to ensure a peaceful conduct of the Aug. 9 governorship election in Osun.

Sen. Chris Ngige, APC chieftain and former governor of Anambra, who made the statement on behalf of his party told newsmen after a meeting of the party’s leaders at Government House, Osogbo that the meeting was centred on how to ensure that peace prevail before, during and after the election.

“Peace is what we have been talking about because we need peace to conduct election but sometimes to achieve peace, we have to make extra efforts,’’ he said.

Mr Segun Oni, a former governor of Ekiti, also confirmed that resolve when he said the ruling party would do everything possible to ensure that Osun election was credible, free and fair.

In his own reaction, the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Muhammed, warned the powers that be against rigging the governorship election in Osun State under whatever guise, saying that it will be “foolhardy for anybody to attempt to rig election in Osun state.”

The PDP has also pledged to ensure a violence-free Osun election. Earlier in the week, it was no less a PDP leader than the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, that gave the assurance.

According to him, “Mr. President has assured that there will be free and fair election and we must put back our strength and strategies that Osun State people are given another opportunity to decide their mandate.

“The ruling party comprises of respected elders, traditional rulers, the youth, women and everybody, who would not do anything to cause trouble.

“We are a peaceful party and we are looking forward to have a peaceful election in Osun State,” he said.

The umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is also not left out.

Recently, the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Segun Agbaje, said his commission is aware of the political tension in Osun and will do everything within its powers to be on top of the situation during the elections.

According to him: “There will be improved security deployment. I cannot say the level of security deployment in Osun will be less than that of Ekiti. This is because of the utterances of the political leaders and the heavy threat of violence.”

The assurances notwithstanding, people who spoke to The Nation in Oshogbo during the week, expressed fear. “From what we see on daily bases here in Oshogbo and in other parts of the state, I think it will only take innovative strategies to stop the supporters of the desperate candidates from fomenting trouble on the day of election. That is why we are worried,” said Mrs. Gbemi Odukoya, a nurse in Oshogbo.

Is INEC ready?

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Nigerians that it is prepared for the August 9, 2014 governorship election in Osun State.

Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Segun Agbaje, gave this assurance recently at an event tagged “Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room,” a platform organised by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) for civil society organistions to assess the level of INEC’s preparedness for the Osun election.

The REC explained that of the 1,407,222 total registered voters in the state, INEC has distributed permanent voter cards (PVC) to 63 percent, translating to 792,200 of the registered voters, adding that 1,250,569 of such PVC were received from the INEC headquarters before July 11.

According to him, his commission will engage in its final phase of PVC distribution on July 26 and 27.

Other materials for the Osun election include about 7,000 mats, which according to the REC have been “ordered to complement available bedding facilities provided in all the Registration Areas Centres (RACs) to afford INEC officials the minimum comfort preparatory to their deployment to the field.”

On the security of the supplied electoral materials, Agbaje however said only non-sensitive electoral materials have so far been deployed and that the commission will wait until August 6, before it will allow the release of more sensitive materials from the state’s branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The electoral umpire said INEC has done all it can to ensure that the Osun election would end up as an improvement on the Ekiti election.

“The Anambra case was not as bad as being portrayed.  If Ekiti is said to have been an improvement, we want to build on that improvement with the Osun election to ensure that we have the best in 2015,” he said.

Agbaje, who confirmed that 19 candidates have been cleared to contest the election, warned that no voter will be allowed to cast ballot without PVC.