By Ismail Azeez
The Imole Campaign Council has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political actors, and other stakeholders to ensure the conduct of free, fair, and credible elections in Osun State.
The call was made by the Chairman of the Civil Society Matters Committee of the Imole Campaign Council, Hon. Funmiso Babarinde, during a stakeholders’ engagement organised by the committee to support the re-election bid of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Babarinde urged security agencies, particularly the police, to remain apolitical and avoid actions capable of heating up the polity or creating tension in the democratic process.
He charged civil society organisations, media practitioners, security agencies, and INEC to rise to their constitutional responsibilities to protect the integrity of the electoral ecosystem.
According to him, the upcoming Osun governorship election remains highly significant not only to the people of the state but also to Nigeria’s broader democratic journey, as it represents the final off-cycle governorship election ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“I commend civil society groups and members of the media for the vital roles they have played so far. You applauded the government in areas where we performed well, offered constructive criticism where improvements were necessary, and defended the administration whenever detractors attempted to launch campaigns of calumny against it. This engagement is, therefore, aimed at reminding us of our responsibilities before, during, and after the election,” Babarinde said.
He further noted, “There is a need for all of us to hold the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) accountable for the conduct of free, fair, and credible elections, especially at a time when the opposition is displaying acts of desperation and bravado that are unhealthy for the democratic process. We must collectively task INEC, security agencies, political actors, and other critical stakeholders to conduct themselves in a civil and responsible manner throughout the electoral process.”
Babarinde emphasized that INEC must release the voters’ register to political parties on time, ensure the early deployment of electoral materials, guarantee a hitch-free exercise, and remain strictly impartial throughout the process.
“Similarly, the police and other security agencies must remain apolitical. They must desist from actions capable of creating tension or chaos ahead of the election. Security agencies should act professionally and responsibly to strengthen public confidence in the democratic process.”
“The media must continue to see itself as a messenger of peace and unity, not discord, during the electoral exercise. Likewise, civil society organisations, as the voice of the people, must uphold their mandate by promoting democratic values and avoiding unnecessary partisanship. Our democracy must be protected, and that responsibility begins here in Osun State, which remains the final phase of the off-cycle elections in Nigeria before the 2027 general elections,” he added.