By The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun, has condemned what he described as a grave assault on Nigeria’s democracy, following reports that an INEC office at Oyinlola DC School in Okuku, Ward 2, was invaded and Permanent Voter Cards stolen by hoodlums allegedly linked to the APC.
In a statement issued Sunday through his Chief Press Secretary, Olamide Tiamiyu, Egbedun expressed profound concern over the development, warning that any attempt to intimidate voters, compromise electoral materials, or manipulate the democratic process poses a serious threat to free and fair elections and must not be tolerated.
He called on relevant security agencies to launch an immediate, thorough, and impartial investigation into the incident, identify those responsible, and ensure they are brought to justice in accordance with the law.
He further urged INEC to strengthen measures guaranteeing a peaceful, free, fair, transparent, and credible election, stressing that the commission needs to work closely with security agencies to safeguard electoral materials, protect voters and electoral officials, and reinforce public confidence in the process.
Despite condemning the incident, Egbedun appealed to his constituents and residents across Osun State not to be discouraged or intimidated, maintaining that democracy draws its strength from the active participation of citizens.
“I urge every eligible voter not to be intimidated or deterred by the actions of desperate individuals,” he said.
Furthermore, he added that every lawful effort would be made to ensure legitimate votes are protected and counted, and that no act of intimidation should stop the people from freely choosing their leaders.
He reaffirmed that peaceful, credible, and transparent elections remain the bedrock of good governance, democratic stability, and sustainable development, urging all political parties, candidates, and their supporters to conduct themselves responsibly and shun violence, intimidation, and any act capable of undermining public peace or eroding confidence in the electoral process.
He closed by reiterating his commitment to protecting democratic values and the rule of law, expressing confidence that the will of the people would ultimately prevail through a credible electoral process.
