By Odita Sunday
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigeria Police Force, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), political parties and their agents against manipulation, violence, vote-buying and intimidation in Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.
The rights advocacy group said the August 15, 2026 election must not be allowed to degenerate into another theatre of electoral violence, ballot snatching, voter intimidation, harassment of opposition supporters or other forms of electoral criminality.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, on Friday, HURIWA particularly urged security and law-enforcement agencies to maintain strict political neutrality and demonstrate that they are institutions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria rather than instruments of any political party.
The group warned against selective arrests, intimidation or harassment of opposition members and supporters while political actors aligned with those in power are allegedly allowed to operate with impunity.
HURIWA said the Osun election represents a critical test of INEC’s commitment to ensuring that the votes of Nigerians count.
It therefore urged the commission to demonstrate absolute independence, transparency, professionalism and impartiality throughout the electoral process.
The group said every eligible voter must be allowed to cast their ballot without fear or intimidation, while the collation and declaration of results must strictly comply with the law.
It also demanded maximum transparency in the transmission and publication of polling-unit results, stressing that Nigerians should be able to follow the movement of results from polling units through the various stages of collation.
“Any attempt to create an opaque results-management system will inevitably fuel suspicion and undermine confidence in the election,” HURIWA warned.
The organisation cautioned political parties and candidates against deploying armed thugs, financial inducement, state-sponsored intimidation or institutional manipulation to secure electoral advantage.
It said political power must be obtained through the ballot box rather than through violence, money or manipulation of electoral institutions.
HURIWA consequently called on all political parties and candidates to commit themselves to peaceful and transparent elections and ensure that their supporters respect democratic rules.
According to the rights group, the outcome and conduct of the Osun election will have implications for public confidence in INEC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It said Nigerians would closely assess the conduct of the commission’s leadership and National Commissioners during the poll, adding that the Osun election should be used to demonstrate that Nigeria’s electoral democracy is progressing rather than regressing.
HURIWA demanded that INEC guarantee a transparent, credible, free and fair election, while the police and EFCC maintain political neutrality and protect voters rather than intimidate them.
It also called for aggressive prosecution of vote-buying and financial inducement, as well as the arrest and prosecution of armed thugs and other electoral offenders irrespective of their political affiliations.
The group further urged political parties to respect electoral rules and warned against the manipulation of state institutions for partisan advantage.
HURIWA said it would not be satisfied with what it described as “cosmetic assurances” of electoral neutrality.
“The people of Osun State have the constitutional right to freely choose their leaders, and nobody — whether politician, security officer or electoral official — has the right to steal that choice from them,” the group said.
It warned that anything short of a transparent, credible, free and fair election in Osun State would amount to a serious assault on Nigeria’s democracy and would be rejected by Nigerians.
About the Author
