NBA report accuses police of compromise, foul play during Osun rerun

More reports of electoral irregularities that took place during the September 27 supplementary governorship election in Osun State have emerged.

In a detailed report by Nigeria Bar Association ad hoc committee on the rerun, the association accused the Nigeria Police of compromising during the poll, and that the election was far from being a “free and fair election compared to what transpired in the election of September 22”.

The ad hoc committee chaired by Mr Tawo Tawo (SAN), regretted the activities of the Nigerian police noting that it was stunned that the security personnel refused to question the activities of the “fierce-looking men who invaded the area at Orolu” one of the areas the supplementary poll took place.

In the report which was published on NBA website late on Sunday, the body said that police by their action and inaction, appeared compromised in the rerun election that took place in seven polling units across four local government areas.

“In conclusion, the rerun of the Osun State governorship election fell far short of a free and fair election compared to what transpired in the election of the 22nd of September, 2018 in Osun State which was, however, declared inconclusive.

“From the actions and inaction of the Nigerian Police Force, they appeared to have been compromised given the fact that the Police did not question the activities of the about fifty (50) fierce-looking men who invaded the area at Orolu,” the report said.

The NBA, one of the local observers during the election, and said to have been harassed by security men as well as thugs during the rerun, said its observation team monitored the election at Osogbo polling unit 17, ward 5, where they witnessed that “massive armed security presence with movement around the polling unit restricted voters and observers.”

The report noted that all the election materials were made available for the election and the electoral protocols for voting were fulfilled by the electoral officers at the unit and that accreditation and voting commenced at about 8:02 am and the voting process went on smoothly till about 11:30 am “when some hoodlums invaded the area in an attempt to disrupt the process.”

It further explained, “The situation was brought under control by the security personnel present. In spite of the seeming and subtle form of intimidation, voters were undaunted as they did cast their votes. There was substantial compliance with the election process and procedure at the polling units.”

At Orolu, where the rerun held in Ward 8, polling units 1 and 4, and Ward 9, polling unit 3, NBA report claimed that members of the monitoring team were harassed and subsequently arrested.

It said that it took the intervention of Mr Festus Okoye, “who is currently the INEC Commissioner representing the South-East geopolitical zone” to secure their release. He also facilitated the team’s movement to Orolu.

“There was heavy security presence with about thirty armed Police officials at Orolu. At about 10:00 am, while figuring out how to get to Idiya Polling Unit in Orolu, four Toyota Hiace buses packed with about 50 fierce-looking men, drove in and the men alighted and walked towards the polling unit without any PVC in their hands.

“In spite of the heavy security presence of the Nigeria Police, these men were not stopped nor asked if they were going to vote neither were they asked for their PVCs. This, however, aroused our suspicion.

“A member of the NBA Ad hoc EWG who attempted a recording of the happenings (a few seconds was recorded though) was almost attacked by about six of these men. Surprisingly, the police officials stood aloof and did nothing to stop the invasion by this group of men.

“The reason given by the security men (police officials) for their inaction was that they could not act without formal complaints from us. Another observation at Orolu was that most of the voters had identification bands on their left arms and ring bands on their thumbs. Those with the said identification bands were allowed access into Orolu while those without the bands were not allowed access and so could not vote.

READ ALSO: We’re not satisfied with Ekiti, Osun elections, we’ll deploy 300 observers in 2019— CAN

“Although these voters without the bands displayed their PVCs to the policemen on the ground as evidence that they had been registered to vote at that particular polling unit, the police personnel adamantly turned them back and as such, they could not exercise their right to vote,” the report said.

Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was leading with 353 votes in the September 22 election which the Independent National Electoral Commission declared inconclusive.

However, Gboyega Oyetola of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), had come from his second position in the main election to win the supplementary poll and was declared winner in the final results.

 

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