A stakeholders' forum organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election was briefly disrupted on Wednesday after supporters of the Accord Party and the All Progressives Congress (APC) engaged in a shouting match.
The incident occurred during an interactive session following a keynote address by the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), who had assured participants of the Commission's commitment to conducting a peaceful, transparent and credible election.
The tension flared when the member representing Ede North/Ede South/Ejigbo/Egbedore Federal Constituency, Hon. Bamidele Salam, made remarks relating to the controversy over the control of motor parks in the state, including issues involving a faction of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) led by Kazeem Oyewale, popularly known as Asiri Eniba.
His comments prompted supporters of the Accord Party to chant "Imole," while APC supporters responded with repeated chants of "AMBO," the slogan of the party's governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.
The exchange disrupted proceedings and prompted the intervention of security operatives drawn from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigerian Air Force, who restored order.
Earlier, supporters of the Accord Party and some civil society organisations had interrupted the goodwill message of the Osun State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, before calm was restored.
Despite the disruptions, Prof. Amupitan appealed to political parties and their supporters to embrace peaceful conduct before, during and after the election.
He announced that the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) had been extended until Friday, July 31, to enable more eligible voters to obtain their cards.
According to him, 322,822 PVCs, representing 62 per cent of newly registered voters, have so far been collected.
The REC said the extension was intended to ensure that no eligible voter would be disenfranchised ahead of the governorship election.
Providing updates on the Commission's preparations, Amupitan disclosed that Osun has 2,339,233 registered voters, spread across 30 local government areas, 332 registration areas and 3,763 polling units, while 14 political parties will participate in the election.
He added that INEC had deployed 4,427 BVAS machines, including 664 backup devices, while sensitive election materials would be distributed through 97 Super Registration Area Centres and 105 Registration Area Centres.
The electoral body will also conduct a mock accreditation exercise on August 1 in 12 local government areas to assess the efficiency of the BVAS before election day.
Expressing concern over reports of political violence in some parts of the state, Amupitan said INEC had intensified collaboration with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
He identified Atakumosa East, Atakumosa West, Boripe, Ede North, Ede South, Ife Central, Ifedayo, Ila, Ifelodun, Oriade and Osogbo as areas where additional security measures would be implemented based on risk assessments.
"We will not allow the democratic will of the people to be undermined by violence or intimidation," he said, adding that security agencies had put in place intelligence-driven strategies to safeguard voters, election personnel and electoral materials.
"The ballot, not violence, will determine the next governor of Osun State," he added.
Amupitan also disclosed that investigations were ongoing into the theft of uncollected PVCs from INEC offices in Okuku and Ife Central, assuring residents that the stolen cards could not be used because voter accreditation requires biometric verification through the BVAS.
He further revealed that the Commission was working with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other agencies to curb vote-buying during the election.
The REC urged political parties and candidates to honour the Peace Accord scheduled for Thursday and avoid inflammatory statements, violence and other actions capable of undermining the electoral process.
Reaffirming the Commission's impartiality, he said INEC remained committed only to the Constitution and the wishes of the electorate.
"Our duty is to ensure that every eligible voter has the opportunity to freely choose their leaders in a peaceful, credible and transparent election," he said.
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