By Victor Adeoti
Osogbo – The Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness, a Non-Governmental Organisation, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the Osun West by-election was free, fair and credible.
The Director-General of the NGO, Dr Nwambu Gabriel, made the call at a press briefing on Wednesday in Osogbo.
He said speculations making the rounds in the state indicated that a particular party was perfecting strategies to manipulate the process.
Gabriel, who noted that tension was high in the state, urged the electorate to shun all forms of intimidation and come out to exercise their civic responsibility.
“Our opinion poll has showed that some politicians, who are threatening to win at all cost, including the use of violence, have ignited fear in the electorate.
“We hereby urge citizens with requisite Permanent Voter Cards to come out to exercise their franchise as there will be adequate provision of security,” he said.
Gabriel also urged politicians to play by the rules, stressing that INEC, security agencies and observers were more determined to work together in ensuring that perpetrators of electoral offences were brought to book.
“We wish to advise our brothers and sisters that the long arm of the law would catch up with anyone or group of persons who attempt to circumvent our electoral process,” Gabriel added.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bye-election was prompted by the death of Sen. Isiaka Adeleke, the representative of the district in the Senate, on April 23.
His younger brother, Ademola, was subsequently given the mandate by the PDP as candidate in the election after he defected from APC a day before the party’s primary.
Ademola’s closest opponent, Mudashiru Hussein of the APC, represented the district between 2011 and 2015.