CDHR Warns Politicians Against Violence in Osun Election

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, has urged politicians in Osun State to refrain from violence during Saturday's governorship election. According to the group, no political ambition is worth the life of any citizen. The group's National President, Debo Adeniran, made this call in a statement on Friday. He urged political parties and their supporters to allow voters to freely exercise their franchise, saying "Election is not war. It is a civic duty to choose leaders. Let us not spill blood for ballots. No political office is worth the blood of any citizen."

CDHR also warned security agencies deployed for the election to be neutral, professional, and impartial, urging them to protect voters, polling units, collation centers, and electoral materials without fear or favor. The group said any act of partisanship would undermine democracy and put lives at risk. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has been tasked by CDHR to ensure the effective deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, and real-time uploading of election results. The group said the world is watching, and Nigerians are watching, adding that INEC must ensure BVAS works, results are uploaded in real-time, and the process is transparent from polling unit to final collation. CDHR will also deploy observers across the state to monitor the election and document cases of violence, voter intimidation, vote buying, and other forms of electoral manipulation. The group urged residents to come out peacefully to exercise their franchise, but cautioned them against putting their lives at risk.

"Your life is more important than any politician. Democracy dies when blood flows at the polling unit. Let Osun show Nigeria the way," CDHR said.

In this election, the people of Osun State are expected to choose from among several governorship candidates, vying for the top seat in the state. The election is seen as a test of the state's electoral process, with many watching to see if the INEC can successfully conduct a free and fair election.

Security Concerns

The security situation in Osun State has been a major concern ahead of the election. In recent months, there have been reports of cult clashes, armed robbery, and other forms of insecurity in the state. CDHR has urged security agencies to remain neutral and professional, urging them to protect voters and electoral materials without fear or favor.

The Role of CDHR

CDHR has a long history of advocating for human rights and democracy in Nigeria. Founded in 1992, the group has been involved in several electoral processes, including monitoring and advocating for the rights of voters. In this election, CDHR has vowed to monitor the situation closely and document any cases of electoral manipulation or violence.

The outcome of the election is expected to have a significant impact on the state's politics and governance. The successful conduct of the election would boost investor confidence and encourage economic growth in the state, while a chaotic or disputed outcome could lead to instability and insecurity.