…urges political parties to embrace peace, shun violence
The Osun State chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council has called for the curbing of vote buying and electoral malpractices, stating that the menace greatly affects democracy and democratic governance.
The Chairman of the Council, Victor Akande made this call at the commencement of annual two day annual stakeholders workshop holding in Osogbo on Tuesday.
The workshop was attended by leadership and members of all registered political parties in the State.
Speaking with the newsmen, Akande explained the purpose of the workshop is to ensure political parties works together towards developing democracy in the State and Country.
“We are discussing two issues, and that is of violence and also the issue of vote buying, which we believe is evil and is affecting our democracy.
“And as political parties, we need to come together to see the way forward in order to tackle these two issues.
“That has caused a lot of problems for our political system, and that’s the reason why we are here today. We want to offer solutions to this menace”, he explained.
Ahead of the 2025 Local Government election, the chairman advised political parties to conduct themselves in peaceful and orderly manner.
“My advice for all political parties ahead of the forthcoming local government election, is that each political party should conduct their members in a peaceful manner to avoid anything that can cause chaos”, he advised.
Speaking with the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Osun State, Dr Mutiu Agboke commended the political parties for the development while advising them to commence mass education in order to curb vote buying in the electoral process.
Agboke said, “You know, it is very rare for you to see them as politicians coming up with this kind of workshop with a view to talking to themselves particularly on issues that is affecting them vis a vis the election and electionary process.
“So it’s a very good development and commendable, but the stakeholders are the one doing it and they agree with me that they are the one perpetrating it.
And one of the steps we need to take to stem it out is for us to start massive education which they are starting with this workshop.
“Violence is one of the cankerwarms that is bedevilling the success of elections in Nigeria and there’s a need to curb it “.
One of the guest lecturers, Dr Segun Odesola said vote buying was a cankerworm and there’s a need tackle the manace.
“Vote buying has become a cankerworm and is threatening the foundation of democracy in Nigeria, And that’s why all stakeholders like the electorates, the political parties, law enforcement agencies, INEC, we should all come together and tackle these menace, so it will affect the quality of the leaders that are governing us as a nation.”
The workshop continues on Wednesday and issues focusing on development of democracy will continue to be at the front burner.
