As preparations intensify for the August 15 governorship election in Osun State, a group of political parties has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for maintaining neutrality in the electoral process.
In a statement issued in Osogbo on Wednesday, the parties expressed confidence in the leadership of the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Mutiu Agboke, praising the commission’s professionalism and conduct in the build-up to the election.
The statement was signed by the Osun State Chairman of the Action Peoples Party (APP), Hon. Odesola Oluseye Titus, on behalf of other political parties in the state.
Odesola said INEC officials in the state had demonstrated a high level of professionalism since the commencement of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, reflecting the commission’s preparedness for the forthcoming poll.
He particularly commended the early voter sensitisation efforts initiated by the REC.
“The early sensitisation embarked upon by the Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Mutiu Agboke, is commendable and unprecedented in the history of elections in our state,” he said.
According to him, Agboke has maintained open engagement with leaders of political parties in the state and assured them of fairness and impartiality in the conduct of the election.
“He has never looked down on any of us as chairmen of political parties in the state and has consistently promised to be an unbiased umpire in the forthcoming election.
“We wish to pass a vote of confidence in him and believe that the Osun governorship election will serve as a model for other states in the country. We are solidly behind him because of the trust we have in his leadership.”
Odesola added that the parties were confident in Agboke’s integrity to conduct a free, fair, transparent and credible election on August 15.
He also urged residents of Osun State to actively participate in the election.
“We want to encourage the people of Osun to prepare for the election and take part in the process. It is their civic responsibility to elect the leaders of their choice,” he said.