By Milcah Tanimu
Ahead of the upcoming gubernatorial election in Ondo State, the Nigeria Civil Society Coalition has called on security agencies to refrain from intimidating voters with excessive displays of force. The group expressed concern that overly visible security might discourage voter participation.
At a press briefing held at the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room in Akure, Franklin Oloniju, a representative of the coalition, emphasized that while heightened security is essential to ensure peaceful elections, it should not create an atmosphere of fear. He noted that past elections had seen uneven security distribution, with urban areas heavily covered while rural communities were left vulnerable.
Oloniju urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the timely arrival of election materials, as delays could disenfranchise voters. He also stressed the importance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) functioning smoothly, to avoid technical issues that could hinder the voting process.
“We call on INEC and security agencies to ensure that observers have unrestricted access to collation centers and that the election process remains fair and credible,” Oloniju added. The civil society coalition reassured that it would continue monitoring the election to ensure accountability and uphold the will of the Ondo electorate.
