Registered voters in Osun, numbering 1,500,000 who have access to their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) will exercise their rights to decide who becomes the next governor of the state on Saturday, July 16.
The state’s governorship election has strong candidates contending for the elective position of the Governor.
The candidates include the incumbent Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democractic Party (PDP); Lasun Yusuff of Labour Party (LP); Akin Ogunbiyi of Accord Party (AP); and Goke Omigbodun of Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Following the recent tension in the country, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) through the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Osun election, Johnson Kokumo, announced that movement on the election day will be restricted from 12:00am (midnight) to 6:00pm on Saturday, July 16.
Speaking Thursday at a session organised by the police for security agencies, non-governmental organisations, media and accredited election observer groups ahead of the governorship election, Kokumo said the only persons free to move around on that day, would be election officials who will have tags identifying them.
He also called on stakeholders to observe with rapt attention, the election processes, and any behaviour found to be contrary to what is expected, should be reported promptly.
“I want to appeal to you, whatever you see that is contrary to the Electoral Act 2022, let us know. Let us see, call our attention to it. It is not out of place.
“You know our zeal. You know the security personnel may not know it. You have a civic responsibility to discharge and what is that? Join hands with us in curbing crimes and criminality.
“And, of course, this includes electoral offenses. We cannot do it alone. If you join hands with us to do it, you would have succeeded in doing your bit.
“And the little things we were able to do collectively and equally are responsible for success we see in those elections we have had in Nigeria.
“People who are saddled with responsibility with special duties are free to move as far as they have their tags. From 00 hours of Saturday to 18:00 hours on Saturday, there will be restriction of movement,” he said.
In ensuring the peace and safety of the Osun state election, the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Ahmed Audi, has disclosed that 11, 226 officers have been deployed to cover the 3,763 polling units, collation centres, flash points and other relevant places to guarantee a smooth election in the state.
Meanwhile, some election monitoring groups have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a collaboration with security agencies and other relevant bodies to conduct a credible, transparent and peaceful election in Osun state.