Residents of Osun have expressed concern over rising political violence and killings ahead of the August 15 governorship election, saying the development could affect the outcome of the poll.

Some residents who spoke with journalists on Wednesday also expressed concern over whether the election would be peaceful and free from inconclusiveness or cancellation.

A resident, Seun Akinboboye, a civil servant, said the political tension and killings ahead of the election might scare voters away from exercising their franchise.

Mr Akinboboye urged political actors contesting the governorship election to ensure that their supporters played by the rules to avoid any form of violence.

He also appealed to security agencies to provide adequate security for voters on Election Day to enable them to perform their civic responsibility.

Demilola Olasunkanmi, a business owner, said the rate at which political thugs were heating the polity demanded urgent attention, adding that security must be strengthened during and after the election.

Ms Olasunkanmi stated that security personnel should allow only essential workers on duty to move around during the election to ensure voters’ safety.

She urged residents to be careful and vigilant to prevent any unforeseen situation that might arise during and after the election.

Elizabeth Oluwatoyin decried the political violence in the state, saying she and her family feared for their safety and would not vote.

“All these politicians are the same. It is always about their selfish interest and enriching themselves and their families.

“I will not, because of the election, let them kill me. They have been killing each other for the past two to three months. I have told my daughter to be careful and not discuss politics anywhere so they don’t turn her into their target.

“Likewise, I have appealed to my husband not to risk his life for any politician because, at the end of the day, the politicians will reconcile. As the whole thing is going, I don’t think anybody from my family will go out and vote in this coming governorship election,” she said.

Ajeniwura Adeoye, an elderly resident, said the level of intimidation ahead of the election could discourage many people from voting. He, however, said he was determined to ensure that his vote counted.

“Look at me, I am almost 70 years old, and I have been voting since 1979. I cannot be intimidated at my age and prevented from coming out now to vote for the candidate I want.

“I know the killings and shootings are intended to discourage people from coming out to vote. I know a lot of people will be concerned about their safety, but I will just admonish them to come out and exercise their franchise to choose who they want to govern the state. The police have given assurances that they will provide security, so people should trust the police and come out to vote,” he said.

He, however, admonished the Independent National Electoral Commission to be an unbiased umpire while calling on security agencies to provide adequate security for voters on election day.

A businesswoman, Ronke Ajibade, said she expected a peaceful election without bloodshed or killings.

Ms Ajibade said she was eager to vote on election day if the security situation in the state remained calm. She appealed to candidates and their political parties to play by the rules and shun all forms of violence.

A resident of Owode-Ede, Olawale Ibrahim, said the way politicians were going about the election was scary. Mr Ibrahim said that if the tense situation was not brought under control, voters might be scared of coming out.

He urged political actors to see the election as a contest with a winner and a loser, rather than a do-or-die affair.

There has been a series of killings in the state ahead of the election, with political parties trading accusations.

(NAN)