By Innocent Anaba
A former Chairperson of the Transition Monitoring Group, TMG, and Associate Professor of Law, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, has expressed concern over the rising political tension ahead of the August 15, governorship election in Osun State, warning that the situation could undermine the credibility of the poll and public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.
In a statement on Thursday, the human rights lawyer called on political parties, candidates, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, security agencies and other stakeholders to exercise restraint and ensure that the election is conducted in a peaceful, transparent and credible manner.
Drawing from her experience in election observation and democratic governance, Akiyode-Afolabi said the developments in Osun State reflected early warning signs commonly associated with electoral violence.
“As an election observer, I understand the warning signs that often precede electoral violence. The developments unfolding in Osun demand urgent and collective action to prevent further escalation,” she said.
She expressed concern over what she described as growing political tension, reports of election-related violence, inflammatory rhetoric and increasing public anxiety ahead of the governorship poll.
According to her, official and security reports indicate that more than 20 persons have reportedly lost their lives in politically related violence in the build-up to the election.
She also cited recent developments, including the reported freezing of an Osun State Government bank account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the deployment of about 15,000 police personnel to the state, and the arrest of the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Teslim Igbalaye, alongside five others over alleged vote-buying before their subsequent release, as issues that have heightened public concern over the electoral environment.
She noted that while the Nigeria Police Force has the constitutional authority to investigate allegations of electoral offences and make arrests where necessary, the arrest of a senior government official at such a critical stage of the electoral process could heighten political tension if not handled transparently and professionally.
“Such actions have the potential to deepen public suspicion, fuel reprisals among supporters and undermine confidence in the fairness and credibility of the election if not handled with the utmost transparency, professionalism and strict adherence to the rule of law,” she stated.
Acknowledging that governorship candidates had signed a Peace Accord, Akiyode-Afolabi stressed that commitment to peaceful elections must go beyond symbolic gestures.
“The true test of that commitment lies not in signing documents but in the actions of political leaders, their supporters and the institutions responsible for safeguarding our democracy,” she said.
Without taking sides in the unfolding political developments, she cautioned that actions taken by public institutions during an election period must be transparent, lawful and capable of strengthening public confidence in the democratic process.
She urged security agencies to remain professional, impartial and accountable to the Constitution, emphasizing that their responsibility is to protect citizens and safeguard the electoral process without creating any perception of political bias or intimidation.
Akiyode-Afolabi also called on INEC to sustain its independence, transparency and professionalism, insisting that every lawful vote must count and that the outcome of the election should reflect the freely expressed will of the electorate.
She further appealed to political leaders to immediately de-escalate tensions, reject violence, hate speech and intimidation, and encourage their supporters to participate peacefully before, during and after the election.
“No political office is worth the life of a single Nigerian. Let the people decide. Let institutions remain neutral. Let peace prevail,” she said.
Akiyode-Afolabi added that the Osun governorship election represents another critical test of Nigeria’s democracy and urged all stakeholders to protect its integrity through responsible leadership, constitutional compliance and respect for the rule of law.
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