Africa-Press – Nigeria. The Osun State Peace and Mediation Working Committee, a Civil Societies Organisation has lamented the high rate of violence that was recorded before and during the 2023 general elections in the state.
Also, Nigerians and security personnel were commended for their resilience and commitment to democracy which was exhibited during the 2023 polls.
Addressing a press conference in Osogbo on Thursday, the Committee led by Kimpact Development Initiative while lamenting the incidences of violence added that the trajectory gave a high risk to the elections.
”This trajectory presents Osun State as one of the states with a high risk of electoral violence in southwestern Nigeria. The pre-election environment was characterized by the destruction of political party billboards, harassment of candidates and voters, attacks on political party offices, and frequent incidents of mob violence. All this attests to the fierce political competition.
“The KDI/EVMM Data Room report shows that there were pockets of violence tracked and documented in the state on the elections days. 11 electoral violence cases were reported and documented during the general election in Osun state-4 cases during the Presidential election & 7 cases during the State House of Assembly, Cumulatively, these incidents of violence impacted over 50 individuals and one (1) death was recorded in the process.”
Pointing to the form the violence took, the Committee disclosed that tracked and documented violence took the form of “physical harm, attempted murder, politically motivated arrests, group clashes, intimidation of voters, ballot box snatching and destruction.”
It also revealed that parts of the state where the frequency of violence occurred were Ila, Atakunmosa East, Atakunmosa West, Ilesha East, Ilesha West, Ede South, Ife South and Osogbo local governments areas.
The Organisation which listed party thugs, security agents acting as accomplices as major perpetrators of the electoral violence incidents also condemned the acts of vote trading and buying and.
While also calling on the government to investigate and hold accountable all those responsible for any acts of violence or electoral malpractice during the 2023 elections, it also charged all stakeholders, political parties, youth leaders and security officers to ensure a peaceful atmosphere.
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