Osun Re-Run 2018 Election:
The Osun re-run was just as chaotic as the weather in Osogbo yesterday. Generally, the election was considered unsatisfactory as it was characterised most significantly by voter-intimidation, harassment of observers and vote-buying. Like their domestic counterparts, international electoral stakeholders and observer groups have communicated their preliminary observations regarding the conduct of the election held yesterday, September 27, and they all have similar comments.
This post is a summary of their observations and the issues with the elections.
Stakeholders worked against the electoral process.
The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) carefully observed the governorship re-run election in Osun State and concluded that the actions of certain stakeholders were contrary to democratic norms and best practices in the conduct of credible elections. The CDD noted that a number of the incidents recorded during the poll undermined the sanctity of the vote and the overall credibility of the electoral process. Specifically, they frowned at the conduct of the security agents as well as political party stalwarts who took steps that were inimical to the conduct of a free, fair and credible election.
Election was heavily policed with incidences of violence.
The Nigeria civil society situation room reported that the overwhelming presence of security operatives across the seven polling units in the election, created tension and apprehension amongst voters. Observers also reported incidences of violence, gunshots around some polling units and clashes between opposing political sides, with supporters of a particular party being prevented from voting.
Observers were denied access to polling units.
CDD observers reported several cases of observers and voters being denied access to polling units, especially in Orolu and Osogbo LGAs, where observers were intimidated, threatened and, in some cases, arrested by security forces. Reports from The Election Network field observers showed that despite being duly accredited by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), several observers and journalists were stopped from observing the process.
APC party agents worked with political thugs, preventing YIAGA observers from monitoring the election.
In its report, the Youth Initiative for Advocacy Growth & Advancement (YIAGA) said: “APC agents and party representatives identified supporters of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to political thugs who attacked and beat the PDP supporters and blocked them from accessing the Polling Unit.”
They also noted that political thugs prevented their observers from monitoring the election in certain polling units and this only changed when foreign observers arrived with a security contingent. Still, domestic observers were prevented from witnessing the counting and posting of results in certain locations.
YIAGA said political thugs also banned members of the media from using mobile phones at the polling unit until in the afternoon when the issues were resolved.
Observers were arrested.
The Centre for Democracy and Development reported that observers who attempted to carry out their legitimate duties were arrested and taken to nearby police stations. They were only released after being denied the opportunity to keep an eye on the process so as to guarantee its credibility. For instance, a CDD observer known as Kemi Busari was arrested by the police on the pretext that he took pictures around a polling unit. The police officer’s stance contradicts the statement of INEC, which made it clear that voters and participants were allowed to go with their phones to polling units but not into polling booths after the ballot paper has been issued to an accredited voter.
This particular incident clearly demonstrates the fact that law enforcement agents were not properly informed of the INEC directive, which banned the use of phones in the voting cubicle, not around the overall polling environment, or they deliberately ignored it. In the face of the intimidation and unjust arrests, observers were forced to leave the polling units. The CDD also observed attempts by members of the security forces to prevent some voters who allegedly belonged to the opposition party from accessing PU012 Olode Ward 07 in Ife-south LG, even after showing their PVCs.
In terms of the sanctity of the vote, CDD observers reported over five attempts by impostors to vote with PVCs from other Wards at PU012 Olode Ward 07 in Ife-south LGA. Although these attempts were unsuccessful, they nonetheless reflect the kind of impunity that undermined the credibility of the process.
In summary, the CDD stated that in the light of these anti-democratic acts, they are strongly of the opinion that the re-run poll did not meet up with the minimum standards for free, fair and credible elections. It fell short of global best practices in democratic elections, which Nigeria aspires to and the acts of intimidation by security forces and the violence unleashed by party thugs are suggestive of an attempt to compromise the integrity the poll.
“Coming as the last off-cycle election before the 2019 general election, the conduct of the security forces, politicians and their supporters are sources of concern to strengthening our democratic process. We recommend an urgent investigation of the roles and conduct of the security forces and political thugs in the Osun rerun with a view to sanctioning infractions and preventing a repeat during the 2019 polls.”
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