As Osun State residents go to the polls on Saturday, the Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness has called on security agencies to take urgent measures to prevent violence before, during, and after the Osun State governorship election.
Speaking at a press conference in Osogbo, the Director-General of the group, Dr. Nwambu Gabriel, said about 40 people had been affected by pre-election-related violence across the state’s geographic Reference
Gabriel expressed concern that political campaigns had increasingly shifted from issue-based engagements to personal attacks, insults, and inflammatory statements.
He warned political office holders to avoid statements that could inflame tensions or encourage violence.
The Director-General demanded increased security deployment across the six local government areas in Ijeshaland to protect voters and residents before, during, and after the election.
He urged security agencies to conduct operations against armed thugs and individuals allegedly impersonating police officers, while also calling for an investigation into the activities of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Osun State.
“Our pre-election monitoring reveals a deeply alarming security landscape. The political atmosphere is heavily charged. Politicians have largely abandoned issue-based campaigns in favor of personal attacks, insults, and inciting language capable of fracturing public peace.
“We strongly condemn the unguarded, reckless, and despicable remarks made by a prominent Governor, whose utterances were unbefitting of such office. Such careless statements overheat the polity and must be reined in immediately.
The Director-General therefore called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to order the immediate arrest and thorough prosecution of all individuals masterminding pre-election violence in Osun State, in accordance with domestic and international laws.
He also urged all security formations deployed for the election to pay higher vigilance to the six LGAs in Ijeshaland to safeguard the lives of law-abiding citizens.
