Osun West bye-election: NGO urges INEC to conduct free, fair poll

NAN-H-70
Election
By Victor Adeoti
Osogbo, July 5, 2017 (NAN) The Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness, a Non-Governmental Organisation, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)  to ensure that  the Osun West by-election was  free, fair and  credible.

The Director-General of the NGO, Dr Nwambu Gabriel, made the call at a press briefing on Wednesday in Osogbo.

He said speculations  making the rounds in the state  indicated  that a particular  party was perfecting strategies to  manipulate  the process.

Gabriel, who noted that tension was high in the state, urged the electorate to shun all forms of intimidation and  come out to exercise their civic responsibility.

“Our opinion poll has showed that some politicians,  who are threatening to win at all cost,  including the use of violence, have  ignited fear in the electorate.

“We hereby urge  citizens with requisite Permanent Voter Cards to come out to exercise their franchise as there will be adequate provision of security,” he said.

Gabriel also urged politicians to play by the rules, stressing  that INEC, security agencies and observers were more determined to work together in ensuring that perpetrators of electoral offences were brought to book.

“We wish to advise our brothers and sisters that the long arm of the law would catch up with anyone or group of persons who attempt to circumvent our electoral process,” Gabriel added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  reports that the bye-election was prompted by the death of Sen. Isiaka Adeleke, the representative of the district in the Senate, on April 23.

His younger brother, Ademola, was subsequently given the mandate by the PDP as candidate in the election after he defected from APC a day before the party’s primary.

Ademola’s closest opponent, Mudashiru Hussein of the APC,  represented the district between 2011 and 2015.  (NAN)
VE/ESAN/OJO
===========
(Edited by Abiodun Esan/Mufutau Ojo)