The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State has assured residents of a peaceful, credible and transparent governorship election on August 15.

The new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Oluwatoyin Babalola, gave the assurance while addressing protesters at the commission’s office in Osogbo on Tuesday.

Protesters comprising market women and civil society groups protested the transfer of a former REC Mutiu Agboke, alleging possible election manipulation.

Ms Babalola, represented by Niyi Fayanju, Head of the Legal Department, and Rufus Ariyo, Head of Voters’ Education and Publicity, assured the protesters that their votes would count.

She said that the commission had put arrangements in place to ensure that the August governorship election would be credible, free and fair and conclusive.

The REC said that the fear of the residents was understandable, promising that she was in the state to uphold the integrity of the commission and ensure that every vote would count.

She clarified that the transfer of staff members was the prerogative of the commission, adding that that the former REC’s transfer was in line with civil service rules.

Some protesters that spoke with journalists said they learnt the former REC’s transfer was politically motivated.

They advised the new REC not to compromise the process, to ensure that their votes count and not to favour any political party.

Sadiat Amsat, Temitope Abass and Mary Adewale, who are artisans, appealed to the INEC not to support any political party but to remain transparent in conducting the election.

The Osun Chairman of the Coalition of Concerned Nigerian Citizens (CCNC), Musa Abdulsalam, who coordinated the protest, submitted the petition of the protesters to the INEC officials. 

(NAN)