INEC: Politicians Must Honour Peace Accord in Osun Poll

• The Osun State governorship election took place on Saturday, July 16, 2022, amidst rising tensions and concerns over possible violence.
• 14 political parties signed a peace accord organized by the National Peace Committee, facilitated in collaboration with INEC, prior to the election.
• Prior to the election, INEC deployed a large team to assess the state's preparedness for the poll and was confident that the election would be conducted in a secure environment.
• Prior to the election, the commission completed the deployment of non-sensitive materials and planned to deploy sensitive materials on Friday.

It is important for all of us to understand that it was a public commitment by political parties with the people of Osun State that come what way, we will maintain peace and order and ensure that we maintain discipline and do everything by the law on election day.

The Osun State governorship election took place on Saturday, July 16, 2022, amidst rising tensions and concerns over possible violence. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had been working closely with stakeholders to ensure a peaceful poll, but the situation remained precarious. According to sources, 14 political parties signed a peace accord organized by the National Peace Committee, which was facilitated in collaboration with INEC, prior to the election. This public commitment aimed to maintain peace and order before, during, and after the election. However, tensions had escalated since the commission's stakeholders' engagement in the state, prompting concerns about possible violence.

Prior to the election, INEC deployed a large team led by its chairman and national commissioners to assess the state's preparedness for the poll. The commission was confident that the election would be conducted in a secure environment, with the police announcing the deployment of 15,000 personnel to the state. Additionally, INEC had completed the deployment of non-sensitive materials to local government areas and planned to deploy sensitive materials from Central Bank of Nigeria vaults on Friday. This included moving materials to Registration Area Centres, where officials would camp overnight ahead of election day.

INEC had also been working to ensure the smooth operation of its technology systems. The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) had been configured and upgraded, with the commission increasing backup devices from 600 to over 1,300 to address possible technical challenges. A mock accreditation exercise was conducted to test the system's performance, and INEC was satisfied with the outcome. This included putting in place safeguards to prevent any potential issues.

Lawyers and compliance officers should be aware that INEC's emphasis on honouring the peace accord may imply a heightened risk of electoral disputes, making it essential for them to monitor the election's outcome and potential legal implications.

Source: Original reporting via The Independent National Electoral Commission