Osun Governorship Election: CDHR Warns Politicians, Security Agencies Against Bloodshed, Manipulation | Sahara Reporters

CDHR said its primary concern was the protection of lives and property across the state, urging candidates, party leaders and their supporters to reject violence and accept the outcome of the election as an expression of the people’s will.

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has warned political actors and their supporters in Osun State against turning Saturday’s governorship election into a bloody contest, stressing that “no political office is worth the blood of any citizen.”

The human rights organisation, in a statement issued on Friday by its National President, Debo Adeniran, called on all stakeholders to ensure that the election is peaceful, free, fair and credible.

CDHR said its primary concern was the protection of lives and property across the state, urging candidates, party leaders and their supporters to reject violence and accept the outcome of the election as an expression of the people’s will.

“Election is not war. It is a civic duty to choose leaders,” the group said. “Let us not spill blood for ballots.”

The group also called on the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Civil Defence and other security agencies deployed for the election to remain neutral, professional and impartial.

It urged security personnel to protect voters, polling units, collation centres and electoral materials without fear or favour, warning that partisan conduct could undermine the democratic process and endanger lives.

“Any act of partisanship will undermine democracy and put lives at risk,” CDHR said.

The group equally charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to use the Osun election to restore public confidence in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

CDHR demanded that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) function effectively, while insisting that election results should be uploaded in real-time and the entire process made transparent from polling units through the final collation.

“INEC must ensure that BVAS works, results are uploaded in real-time, and that the process is transparent from the polling unit to the final collation,” the group said. “The world is watching, and Nigerians are watching.”

The group disclosed that it would deploy observers across Osun State to monitor the electoral process.

It said cases of violence, voter intimidation, vote buying and electoral manipulation would be documented and reported.

CDHR urged residents of Osun to come out peacefully, exercise their franchise, and protect their votes without putting their lives at risk.

“Your life is more important than any politician,” the group said. “Democracy dies when blood flows at the polling unit. Let Osun show Nigeria the way.”