Ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun, electorates in the state have been asked to reject any form of inducement from politicians seeking to buy their votes. 

Joe Okei-Odumakin, President of Women Arise for Change Initiative, gave the advice in Osogbo on Friday. 

“We are therefore using this medium to urge Osun State voters to reject any form of inducement by politicians,” Mrs Odumakin said. 

Her advice came against the backdrop that the Osun election might be marred with “votes buying” like what happened during the June 18 Ekiti governorship election. 

Different civil society organisations monitoring the election exercise have also raised the alarm over the inducement of voters by the gladiators of the main political parties. 

Speaking further, Mrs Okei-Odumakin lamented that the act of voter inducement, particularly vote buying, was gaining ground in the country’s elections.

She also decried the attitude of some politicians who are inciting violence during elections. 

While calling on voters in Osun to engage governorship candidates based on issues, she asked them to only vote for the candidate with a clear vision and agenda to develop the state. 

“As we all look forward to the election, we cannot but alert Nigerians of the fact that the act of voter inducement and vote buying is gaining ground in our elections.

“We do hope that this election will stand as another true test, for us as Nigerians, as we prepare for the crucial 2023 General election in the country,” Mrs Okei-Odunmakin added. 

No fewer than twenty different local and international observers would be monitoring Saturday’s election.  

According to INEC, fifteen political parties are participating in the Saturday Osun governorship election in 30 local government areas. 

Both the Police, Army, SSS, and NSCDC have deployed their operatives for the peaceful conduct of the election.