Some residents of Osogbo on Tuesday staged a protest at the Osun state office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the alleged transfer of partisan electoral officials into the state.
The protest was organised by Coalition of Concerned Nigerian Citizens (CCNC) and other civil society groups.
The protesters displayed placards bearing inscriptions such as “INEC Osun people are watching your every move”, and “INEC don’t cause war in Osun with your actions and inactions”, among others.
They alleged that some INEC officials said to be partisan have been transferred from neighbouring states to Osun ahead of the August governorship election.
The protesters claimed that other states that recently held governorship elections did not experience indiscriminate transfers of INEC officials close to election dates owing to “partisan petitions”.
In a petition addressed to Osun INEC resident electoral commissioner (REC), the coalition said Osun people desire “an election that is demonstrably free, fair, transparent, and insulated from any form of manipulation or malpractice”.
The coalition said no candidate of any political party must “enjoy undue advantage through administrative actions, deployment of personnel, or distribution of electoral materials”.
”The credibility of elections is not merely a technical affair of logistics; it is the moral foundation upon which the legitimacy of government rests,” the petition reads.
“We will not allow any form of penalty into an empty goal post, that is, we will not tolerate contrived advantages, predetermined outcomes, or procedural subversion that renders the people’s will secondary to political machinations.
“We therefore urge you (REC) to: Resist any form of intimidation, inducement, or partisan pressure. The commission’s loyalty is to the Constitution and the electorate, not to individuals or political parties.
“Ensure procedural transparency: From voter accreditation with BVAS to collation and transmission of results, every stage must be open to scrutiny by accredited observers, party agents, and the media.
“Guarantee level playing field: No candidate or party should enjoy undue advantage through administrative actions, deployment of personnel, or distribution of electoral materials.
“Act decisively on infractions: Any act of malpractice, vote buying, falsification of results, disruption of polling units will be met with immediate sanctions in line with the Electoral Act 2026.
“We say no to any technical rigging and partisan transfer of INEC officers from Ondo, Lagos or from any state for sinister motives.
“The CCNC is not an adversary of INEC but a stakeholder in Nigeria’s democracy. We are available to be called upon if you encounter any disturbance, undue pressure, or threats from any persons or political parties seeking to compromise the process.
“Our networks across the state will serve as early warning mechanisms and civic observers committed to truth and peace.”
The Osun governorship election will take place on August 8, 2026.
Ademola Adeleke, governor of the state, who is contesting the poll on the platform of Accord, is seeking re-election.
