The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently identify, document and publicly report growing incidents of political violence, threats and intimidation ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.
SERAP also called on INEC to take preventive measures to protect voters and candidates and ensure that the election is conducted in a peaceful and secure atmosphere.
In a statement, the organisation urged the electoral commission to promptly refer credible allegations of electoral violence and related offences to the Nigeria Police Force and other appropriate law enforcement and security agencies for thorough, impartial, independent and transparent investigation and prosecution.
SERAP said victims of political violence and their families must be provided access to justice and effective remedies.
The organisation said there had been reports of 56 politically related violent incidents and 14 fatalities in Osun over the past 12 months, with 36 incidents recorded in May and June alone.
