● We demand a free, fair, and credible elections.
The Osun State House of Assembly has vowed to resist any attempt to manipulate the electoral process in the state, raising concerns over recent developments involving the redeployment of key electoral officials.
During a press conference held at the Assembly on Thursday, the lawmakers said their position was driven by a “profound sense of duty” to defend democracy, uphold institutional integrity, and protect the will of the people of Osun State.
The Assembly disclosed that it had become aware of the sudden redeployment of the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state.
It further alleged that plans were underway to extend similar changes to other critical electoral personnel, including administrative secretaries, electoral officers, assistant electoral officers, and ICT staff.
Read the full statement statement;
The Osun State House of Assembly addresses the people of Osun State and the nation today out of a profound sense of duty to defend democracy, protect institutional integrity, and safeguard the will of our people.
It has come to our notice that there has been a sudden redeployment of the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Osun State. We also have credible information that further deployments of interested people are being planned and may extend to other key officials, including the Administrative Secretary, Electoral Officers, Assistant Electoral Officers, and ICT personnel across the State.
We are particularly concerned by a deliberate pattern of actions aimed at influencing the electoral process in Osun State.
It is instructive to note that Ekiti State, which precedes Osun in the electoral calendar, has not witnessed such widespread deployments of electoral officials. This raises serious and legitimate questions. Why Osun State?
We state clearly that we have credible information linking these developments to the actions and influence of Mr Gboyega Oyetola.
Let it be clearly stated that no amount of administrative changes or deployments of interested officials will override the will of the people of Osun State.
These calculated efforts, no matter how structured, cannot alter the resolve of our people. The people of Osun State are politically conscious, vigilant, and determined to ensure that their votes count and reflect their true choice.
We have also received credible reports that in parts of the State, particularly within the Ife Ijesa Senatorial District, there are plans to compromise the process through the use of APC members in critical electoral roles such as returning officers and supervisors. This is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. We are placing the public on notice.
Let it be made unequivocally clear that whoever is deployed to conduct elections in Osun State must do so in strict accordance with the Constitution and the law. The election must be free, fair, and credible. Anything short of this will be firmly resisted by Osun people.
We also call the attention of the international community, development partners, and all observers of democratic governance to these developments in Osun State as they unfold.
We speak as representatives of the people of Osun State. All we ask for, and all we insist on, is a free, fair, and credible election.
Let it be known that Osun State is politically aware, vigilant, and deeply committed to democratic values. The people of this State will not accept any action, from any quarter, that undermines the credibility of the electoral process.
●Full text of press conference by the Osun State House of Assembly
