Boos, protest mar INEC stakeholders’ engagement in Osun

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

Boos and protests characterised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stakeholders’ engagement in Osogbo on Wednesday as supporters of the Accord Party and the All Progressives Congress (APC) disrupted proceedings ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

The meeting, organised by INEC as part of preparations for the election, was chaired by the commission’s chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), who briefed participants on the commission’s readiness for the poll.

The first disruption occurred while the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, was addressing participants, as his speech was drowned out by jeers and shouts from Accord Party supporters over what they described as concerns about the neutrality of the police during the forthcoming election.

Another disruption occurred during the question-and-answer session when Accord Party chieftain and candidate for Ede Federal Constituency, Bamidele Salam, took the microphone to speak.

While he was addressing the gathering, supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) began shouting at him in Yoruba, chanting, “Ẹ ṣe, ẹ ṣe o, ẹ wá má lọ,” which translates to, “Thank you, thank you, you may now leave,” disrupting his remarks.

The development temporarily disrupted the meeting before calm was restored. Despite the incident, the stakeholders’ engagement continued, although some Accord Party supporters staged a walkout.

Outside the venue, a group of protesters, mostly women, demonstrated in support of a peaceful election.

Some of the messages on their placards read: “One man, one vote,” “We don’t want violence,” “INEC, give us a free election,” and “BVAS must work,” among others.