Civil society organisations and members of the Osun media community have called for free, fair and violence-free elections ahead of the next governorship poll in the state.
The call was made during an interactive session organised by the Civil Society Matters Committee of the Imole Campaign Council in Osogbo in support of the re-election bid of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the committee, Hon. Funmiso Babarinde, said stakeholders must collectively hold the Independent National Electoral Commission accountable for the conduct of credible elections.
Babarinde noted that the infrastructural projects and welfare programmes of the Adeleke administration had boosted the governor’s popularity since the 2022 governorship election.
He said the session was organised to reflect on the roles played by civil society organisations and the media in strengthening democracy and supporting good governance in the state.
“There is a need for all of us to hold INEC accountable for the conduct of free, fair and credible elections,” he said, adding that the commission must release the voters’ register early enough, ensure prompt deployment of electoral materials and remain impartial throughout the electoral process.
The committee chairman also urged security agencies to remain apolitical and avoid actions capable of creating tension before and during the election.
“The media must continue to see itself as a messenger of peace and unity, not discord, during the electoral exercise,” Babarinde added.
In his opening remarks, the Vice Chairman of the committee, Apesin Abiodun Adegoke, urged participants to focus attention on the role of INEC in delivering a transparent electoral process.
During the interactive session, participants drawn from civil society groups and the media advocated sustained voter education, peaceful conduct and active citizen participation in the electoral process.
Some civil society representatives warned Nigerians against collecting money from politicians during elections, stressing that democracy and leadership should not be treated as a “do-or-die affair” by political actors.
A civil society participant, Mr. Onifade, advised media practitioners to maintain neutrality and avoid taking sides in their reportage.
Responding on behalf of journalists, Ismail Azeez assured participants that members of the media community would continue to report events without bias.
Babarinde also clarified that the organisation had no issues with any civil society group, reiterating the importance of releasing the voters’ register early ahead of the election.
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