By John Dike, Osogbo
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and political parties in Osun State have stressed the importance of maintaining peace during the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
In fact, the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Mutiu Agboke, urged political stakeholders to ensure a calm and orderly environment, noting that tranquility is key to reducing anxiety on election day.
He spoke during monitoring visits to registration centres in the state, saying, “If there is peace as exhibited here, there will be no need for anxiety on election day.”
He stressed that INEC’s role is supervisory, focused on protecting ad-hoc staff, including NYSC members, and safeguarding the integrity of the process.
The monitoring visits, which included centres at Saint Peter Primary School in Oja Tuntun, Iremo 3 in Ife Central, Saint Gabriel Primary School in Moore, and Origbo Community Grammar School in Ipetumodu, aimed to identify and correct any potential issues ahead of the elections.
Agboke noted that technological preparations, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), have been enhanced to improve efficiency and reduce irregularities.
Party agents present at the registration centres expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the CVR exercise, noting that it had been largely peaceful with no major incidents. They also commended the role of new technologies in curbing electoral malpractice.
Some agents recalled previous tensions in areas such as Ife Central but said the current atmosphere reflects a positive shift toward peaceful participation. They called on all stakeholders to continue promoting non-violence, especially during collation and voting.
The REC assured that INEC remains committed to ensuring a transparent and credible electoral process, stating that any perceived anomalies will be addressed promptly.
The message from both INEC and political parties is clear: for democracy to thrive in Osun, stakeholders must uphold peace, respect the rule of law, and ensure that voters can exercise their franchise freely and safely.
