With days to the August 15 Osun State governorship election, election observer and former Chairperson of the Transition Monitoring Group, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, has warned that rising political tension poses a threat to democracy and public confidence in the electoral process.
Akiyode-Afolabi, Founder of the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) and Associate Professor of Law at the University of Lagos, raised the concerns in a statement on Friday.
She called on political parties, candidates, security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders to exercise restraint and ensure that the election is peaceful, transparent and credible.
Drawing from her experience in election observation and democratic governance, Akiyode-Afolabi said developments in Osun State showed warning signs associated with electoral violence.
“As an election observer, I understand the warning signs that often precede electoral violence. The developments unfolding in Osun demand urgent and collective action to prevent further escalation,” she said.
The activist expressed concern over reports of election-related violence and deaths, inflammatory rhetoric and growing public anxiety ahead of the poll.
She said official and security reports indicated that more than 20 people had reportedly died in politically related violence during the build-up to the election.
Akiyode-Afolabi also cited the reported freezing of an Osun State Government bank account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the deployment of about 15,000 police personnel, and the arrest of the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, and five others over alleged vote-buying.
The suspects were later released.
She said the allegations and counter-allegations among political actors had further heightened concerns over the electoral environment.
While not questioning the constitutional authority of the Nigeria Police Force to investigate alleged electoral offences and make arrests where necessary, Akiyode-Afolabi said the arrest of a high-ranking government official and political party chieftain at such a sensitive stage could affect public confidence in the election.
She said such actions could heighten political tension, deepen public suspicion and fuel reprisals among supporters if not handled transparently, professionally and in line with the rule of law.
Akiyode-Afolabi noted that governorship candidates had signed a Peace Accord but said genuine commitment to peaceful elections must be reflected in their conduct.
“The true test of that commitment lies not in signing documents but in the actions of political leaders, their supporters, and the institutions responsible for safeguarding our democracy,” she stated.
The election expert cautioned that actions taken by public institutions during an election period must be transparent and lawful and should strengthen public confidence in the democratic process.
She also called on security agencies to remain professional, impartial and accountable to the Constitution.
According to her, their responsibility is to protect citizens and secure the electoral process without creating the perception of political bias or intimidation.
The former TMG Chairperson urged INEC to continue demonstrating independence, transparency and professionalism, insisting that every lawful vote must count and that the election outcome should reflect the freely expressed will of the people.
She also called on political leaders to reject violence, hate speech and intimidation and encourage their supporters to participate peacefully before, during and after the election.
“No political office is worth the life of a single Nigerian. Let the people decide. Let institutions remain neutral. Let peace prevail”, Akiyode-Afolabi declared.
She said the Osun governorship election would be another important test of Nigeria’s democracy and urged all stakeholders to protect its integrity through responsible leadership, constitutional compliance and respect for the rule of law.
Friday Olokor
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