As Osun State prepares for the governorship election, a security and governance expert, Umar Danassabe Muhammed of Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), has called on security agencies, political parties, candidates and voters to work together to ensure a peaceful and credible election.
Speaking during a breakfast business briefing, Muhammed said the security situation ahead of the election requires careful attention, particularly in areas identified as potential flashpoints.
He noted that election-related violence is often deliberately planned to intimidate voters, discourage turnout and disrupt the electoral process, rather than being the result of random incidents.
According to him, KDI has been monitoring election-related incidents across the state and has identified and verified areas where security concerns have emerged.
Muhammed stressed that security agencies must adopt a proactive rather than reactive approach, particularly in communities that are difficult to access. He urged authorities to study identified flashpoints and deploy personnel strategically before problems escalate.
He also called for effective coordination and information-sharing among security agencies, election officials and civil society organisations to ensure that emerging threats are addressed quickly.
On the safety of voters, Muhammed urged citizens to exercise their constitutional right to vote but remain alert and avoid confrontation in situations where violence appears imminent.
He said security personnel must be visible at polling units while maintaining professionalism and neutrality, stressing that their responsibility is to protect voters, electoral officials and materials without taking sides.
The security expert also condemned the use of political thugs during elections, saying politicians who deliberately recruit or deploy individuals to disrupt voting should be held accountable.
He welcomed warnings from the police against ballot snatching and other forms of electoral violence, but stressed that such warnings must be backed by effective action before, during and after the election.
On the role of Amotekun and local vigilante groups, Muhammed said such groups must operate within the limits of the law and should not take over responsibilities constitutionally assigned to the recognised security agencies responsible for election security.
He further urged political parties and their supporters to avoid inflammatory statements, intimidation and acts capable of escalating tensions.
Looking beyond election day, Muhammed said the responsibility for maintaining peace does not end when voting stops. He urged political actors, security agencies, election officials and citizens to remain calm during the collation and announcement of results.
He called on security agencies to remain neutral and professional throughout the process, while urging candidates and their supporters to accept the outcome through lawful channels and seek redress where necessary.
Muhammed maintained that the people of Osun State deserve an election where they can freely exercise their franchise without fear, intimidation or violence.
He appealed to politicians to put the interests of the state above personal ambitions, stressing that the use of thugs and violence could undermine the democratic process and damage the peace of the state.
He said all stakeholders must work collectively to ensure that Osun remains peaceful before, during and after the election, regardless of the eventual outcome.
