Tells INEC, security agencies to remain neutral
By Dayo Johnson, Osogbo
OSOGBO — The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, has cautioned political actors in Osun State against turning Saturday’s governorship election into a violent contest, insisting that no political ambition is worth the life of any citizen. The group said its priority was the protection of lives and property before, during and after the election.
In a statement on Friday by its National President, Debo Adeniran, CDHR urged political parties and their supporters to shun violence and allow voters to freely exercise their franchise. “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,” Adeniran said. The rights group urged the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, DSS, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and other security agencies deployed for the election to remain neutral, professional and impartial. It said security personnel must protect voters, polling units, collation centres and electoral materials “without fear or favour.”
“Any act of partisanship will undermine democracy and put lives at risk,” the group warned.
CDHR also charged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to use the Osun election as an opportunity to rebuild public confidence in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections. The organisation demanded effective deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, and real-time uploading of election results.
“INEC must ensure BVAS works, results are uploaded in real-time, and the process is transparent from polling unit to final collation. The world is watching, and Nigerians are watching,” the statement said. CDHR disclosed that it would 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 not to put 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.
