Two civil society groups, the Coalition for Concerned Nigerian Citizens (CCNC) and the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), have raised “urgent concerns” about developments within the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Osun State, warning that the credibility and peaceful conduct of the state’s governorship election could be severely compromised if immediate corrective measures are not taken.

The CCNC alleged that recent postings and redeployment of INEC personnel in the state appear “selective, opaque and overtly partisan,” claiming that individuals believed to have affiliations with the All Progressives Congress (APC) were being assigned to sensitive electoral roles across key local government areas.

In a petition to INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan (SAN), signed by its Chairman, Abdulsalam Musa Akinkunmi and General Secretary, Owolabi Hassan, the CCNC stated that the development undermines INEC’s constitutional role as an impartial electoral umpire, adding that it raises serious concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.

The group further questioned what it described as inconsistencies in INEC’s administrative actions, noting that similar large-scale redeployments were not carried out in Ekiti State, where elections are scheduled earlier, or during the recent governorship election in Anambra State.

Relatedly, the CDHR also expressed concern over the recent transfer of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Osun State, Mutiu Agboke, describing the move as ill-timed and capable of fuelling suspicion among stakeholders.

In a statement signed by its National President, Yinka Folarin, and National Publicity Secretary, Adewunmi Adesina, the group urged INEC to demonstrate transparency and sensitivity in its decisions.

HOWEVER, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, yesterday, said that he would win the gubernatorial election scheduled for August 15 in the state with a wide margin.

Adeleke, who is the governorship candidate of the Accord Party (AP), gave the assurance in Osogbo during the inauguration of a 52-member campaign council for his re-election bid.

He expressed optimism of feeling the cloud of victory around him, his team and the Accord Party.
MEANWHILE, in a strategic push to bolster the state’s voting power ahead of future polls, Chairman of the Lagos StateIndependent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile, has urged residents to participate in the ongoing INEC Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

Justice Okikiolu-Ighile, while speaking at a high-level voter education sensitisation programme, described the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) as far more than a piece of plastic, calling it the ultimate key to accountability and governance.

The chairman urged stakeholders to take the Register-Collect-Vote (RCV) message to the heart of Lagos communities, including places of worship, schools and workplaces.