The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Osun poll

  • Osun: Election observers commend INEC

    Election observers in Ilesa, the home town of Governor Rauf Aregbesola have   commended the Independent National Electoral Commission for ensuring timely arrival of electoral materials and election officials at polling units.

    The observers spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilesa West and East Local Governments.

    They said the early arrival of the officials would be crucial to a successful outcome of the poll.

    Mr. Terfa Hemen, an observer from the Centre for Democracy Development, said he had monitored six polling units in Ilesa West and Ilesa East, adding that INEC officials arrived before 8am.

    He said the timely arrival of INEC officials for the accreditation exercise was indicative of an election that would be credible and fair.

    Mrs. Cynthia Mbamalu, an observer from Youths Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Development, said the conduct of INEC was commendable compared to previous elections.

    Mbamalu said the INEC officials arrived at the polling units on time and accreditation started at 8am in most of the polling units in Ilesa West and Ilesa East.

    A Peoples Democratic Party’s agent, Mr. Oluwaseun Oni, also commended INEC for the timely accreditation of voters.

    Oni also described the turn out of voters for the accreditation exercise as impressive.

    An All Progressives Congress agent, Mrs. Victoria Olaide, said INEC officials arrived before 8am for the accreditation exercise.

    Olaide, who said the timely accreditation of voters, was commendable, expressed optimism that the election would be free and fair.

    According to a PPA stalwart, Adekunle Busuyi, the proper provision and distribution of election materials would ensure a hitch-free exercise.

     

  • Aregbesola to FG: Be committed to democracy

    Aregbesola to FG: Be committed to democracy

    The Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Saturday’s governorship poll has charged the Federal Government to show commitment to the country’s democracy.

    Speaking shortly after he was accredited alongside his wife, Serifat, and children, at exactly 10.45am at Ifofin ward 8, unit 1 polling centre in Ilesa, the governor condemned the clampdown on chieftains and members of the APC across the state by security agents.

    He said: “They will have themselves to blame if they scuttle the democracy. You can see people’s patriotism and commitment to democracy. If they can be 20 percent committed like the ordinary people, the nation would have been the best for it. What they are doing by picking our chieftains and members is barbaric.

    “They have been arresting, harassing and molesting our people for no just reason. The democracy is about making your choice freely without being hounded.”

    The governor said with his observation so far things are going well with the voting process, except for the arrest, intimidation and harassment of the APC chieftains by the Peoples Democratic Party, using the security agents.

    Meanwhile, voters’ turn out in Osogbo, the state capital and Ilesa was very impressive.

    People started leaving their homes as early as 6.30am for polling centres.

    Despite the early morning drizzle, many trekked long distances to polling centres in the two cities.

  • Osun: Don’t set Nigeria on fire – Jakande

    Osun: Don’t set Nigeria on fire – Jakande

    The first civilian governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, has warned those in position of authority to be wary of actions that could lead to chaos in the country.

    Jakande bemoaned the “militarization of democratic process” as witnessed in Ekiti State and now in Osun, describing it as unfortunate.

    The veteran journalists said never in the history of the nation has election been so tense as the case of Osun governorship election.

    “Electorate should be allowed to freely choose their leader without molestation, inducement or harassment. The idea of deploying large number of security operatives is wrong and should not be encouraged. It discourage electorate from discharging their duty and gives room for impunity,” he said

    akande asserted that those heating the polity do not love Nigeria.

    Nigerians, he warned, should beware of desperate politicians who want to win election at all cost.

    He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to maintain its neutrality at all times, saying that allegations of connivance with particular political party is not good for the integrity of the commission.

    Meanwhile, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has described as appalling, soldiers’ appear in hoods in Osun State at a time when the state is soaked in election tension.

    MURIC said, “Soldiers in hoods can be anybody – fake security officials, political thugs, Boko Haram insurgents or Niger Delta militants. Anything is possible.”

  • INEC clears 20 for Osun election

    INEC clears 20 for Osun election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared 20 candidates for next month governorship election in Osun State.

    The commission has also accredited 29 local and foreign observers for the poll.

    Addressing journalists recently, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, had said the commission will ensure that the conduct of Osun election surpasses that of Ekiti.

    According to him, the Osun governorship poll would serve as a fitting prelude to the 2015 general election which would be the best conducted under the commission’s watch.

     

  • U.S Consul General, 30 others to observe Osun poll

    The United State Consul General to Nigeria, Jeffrey Hawkins, on Monday disclosed that he would lead a team of about 30 American observers to Osun State for the August 9 governorship election in the state.

    Hawkins spoke at the opening ceremony of a four-day workshop organised by the US Mission in Nigeria for press and public affairs officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), drawn across the country.

    He said the U.S will closely monitor the election because it was key to cementing Nigeria’s democracy.

    “I will be in Osun on the election day. We will be deploying about 30 observers in similar magnitude with that of Ekiti.

    “The Osun election is the last litmus indicator for future elections in Nigeria. Please be transparent with the process.

    “We have a wide programme working with the INEC through the United States Agency for International Development and through various training sessions to support the work of INEC and we have a close collaboration with the commission’s chairman, Attahiru Jega and others.

    “So there is a strong commitment from the U.S to democracy in Nigeria whether it is on a localised level or at the national level,” said Hawkins.

    While expressing the U.S satisfaction with the Ekiti governorship poll, Hawkins urged the INEC press and public affairs officers to be open and transparent while they go about their duties during elections.

    He said: “Be honest with your immediate colleagues, journalists and the Nigerian public and demonstrate to the Nigerian people that the country is on the right track; that the democracy is moving forward.

    “Let the people know that they have an electoral commission that cares about honest results in the elections. It is a big challenge but if you can achieve that you would have done a good thing for the country and you would be great patriots for Nigeria.”