The Osun State gubernatorial election that took place on Saturday, July 16 should be accepted by all parties involved as it reflected the true will of the people in the state.
This was contained in a statement signed by Mr. Fidelis Nweke who is the National Coordinator of the Coalition of INEC Accredited Civil Society Election Observers in a communique in Osogbo, on Monday.
According to the group, the Osun gubernatorial electoral exercise met the required international standard for credible democratic election.
“The exercise met the required international standard for credible democratic election. The result should therefore be accepted by all as a true reflection of the will of the people of Osun State.
“Since INEC has announced a clear winner of the election, the rest of the candidates should see themselves as co-winners and tow the path of peace by congratulating the clear winner for the good and progress of the State, because Osun state remains a home for all of its citizens and the Government that will emerge from the election should be government for all the people of the State,” he said.
The group, however, noted that there was a heightened tension in some parts of the state in the Saturday’s guber.
“The atmosphere was peaceful in some places while hoodlums who definitely are political party thugs unleashed mayhem in some other places, in a desperate effort to obtain victory at all cost.
“It is imperative to note that, the one man, one vote which had heightened the expectations for a free and fair election was also marred.”
Nweke, while passing a vote of confidence on the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC said “we note with satisfaction that INEC’s uncompromising position on the strict compliance to the use of the Bi-Modal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS) which was considerably effective during the election as well as actionable intervention by the electoral management body in areas of conflict and other violations, to a very large extent, defined the entire exercise and consolidated INEC’s position as a truly unbiased electoral umpire, committed to advancing the democratization process in the country.”
