Osun Election: No office worth blood - CDHR warns politicians

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has issued a stern warning to political actors in Osun State, urging them to refrain from violence during the upcoming governorship election. The group stressed that no political ambition justifies bloodshed, emphasizing the protection of lives and property as paramount.

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Election is not war. It is a civic duty to choose leaders. Let us not spill blood for ballots. No political office is worth the blood of any citizen.

CDHR called on the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, and other security agencies to maintain neutrality and professionalism. They must ensure the safety of voters, polling units, and electoral materials without bias, as any partisanship could undermine democracy and endanger lives.

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Any act of partisanship will undermine democracy and put lives at risk.

The rights group also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to leverage the Osun election to rebuild public confidence in the electoral system ahead of the 2027 general elections. CDHR demanded the effective use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and real-time uploading of results, stressing the need for transparency from polling units to final collation.

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

CDHR announced it would deploy observers across Osun State to monitor the election and document any instances of violence, voter intimidation, or electoral manipulation. The organization encouraged residents to vote peacefully, prioritizing their safety above all else, and stated that Osun should set a positive example for Nigeria's democratic process.

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