The Independent National Electoral Commission has urged political parties and their candidates participating in Saturday’s Osun State governorship election to honour the peace accord they signed. The Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, recently had his say while speaking on Morning Express on ADBN TV, amid concerns over rising tensions ahead of the election.
Urging political parties to commit themselves to a peaceful poll, Oketola recalled how the NPC, in collaboration with INEC, facilitated the accord as a public commitment by political actors to maintain peace and abide by the law before, during and after the election.
He added that INEC has deployed a large team led by its chairman and national commissioners to assess the state’s preparedness for the poll.
His words, “The Peace Accord, you know, that was put together by the National Peace Committee in collaboration with INEC, it wasn’t just a jamboree.
It is important for all of us to understand that it was a public component by political parties with the people of Osun State that come what way, we will maintain peace and order and ensure that we maintain discipline and do everything by the law on election day.
So, it is important for political actors to honour that Peace Accord. That is why it will continue to be relevant. If we know that the Peace Accord means nothing, why are we organising it? So first, the political parties have made a public commitment. We must honour it.
I concede that there have been tensions in Osun run up to today.
Election will be held in Osun in a very secure environment.
By election day, I can bet you that all the 3,700 polling units in Osun State should have the presence of RAC officials by 8 o’clock, and by 8.30, voting should start.
We are putting in a lot of safeguards, and it can’t be bypassed by anyone. So, it’s been configured, and the election will hold.
If there are glitches in one or two polling units, it is not enough for any political actor to come to town and say that BVAs has failed. No, INEC cannot run an election with an outdated version. We are a serious organisation.
If you are in a polling unit and you notice irregularities, first, we would encourage such voters to be calm, don’t confront, don’t resort to self-help.
Vote buying is criminal, is against the law, is against the electoral act. The electoral act has provided legal liabilities for both the buyers and the sellers.
You see, in any election whatsoever, INEC does not have a candidate.
What we all need to do is to come together, further entrench our democracy, and go out on election day.”
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