OSOGBO, Osun State — A senatorial aspirant of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Nathaniel Oduyemi, has condemned the rising wave of pre-election violence and thuggery in Osun State, urging security agencies and President Bola Tinubu to take swift action to prevent the state from descending into chaos ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
Oduyemi, who is seeking to represent Osun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, expressed deep concern over the increasing incidents of political violence, intimidation, and thuggery that have characterised the pre-election period in the state. He warned that if unchecked, these developments could undermine the credibility of the electoral process and discourage citizens from participating in the democratic exercise.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the NDC aspirant called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Department of State Services, and other security agencies to step up their presence across the state and take decisive action against individuals and groups involved in political violence. He stressed that no political ambition should be worth the life of any Nigerian and that perpetrators of violence must be held accountable.
“Election should be a celebration of democracy, not a theatre of violence. The growing trend of thuggery, intimidation, and political attacks in Osun State is alarming and must be addressed urgently. I call on security agencies to act decisively to protect the lives and property of all citizens and to ensure a peaceful electoral process,” Oduyemi said.
The aspirant also appealed to President Tinubu to personally intervene and send a clear message that violence will not be tolerated in the electoral process. He noted that the President’s commitment to free, fair, and credible elections must be backed by concrete actions to protect voters and political actors from intimidation and harm.
Oduyemi further urged political parties and their candidates to eschew violence and embrace issue-based campaigns. He argued that the people of Osun State deserve to choose their leaders based on competence, integrity, and vision, rather than through fear and coercion.
The NDC aspirant also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain vigilant and ensure that the election is conducted in a transparent and credible manner. He urged the commission to work closely with security agencies to identify and address any threats to the electoral process.
As the August 15 governorship election approaches, Oduyemi’s condemnation of pre-election violence adds to growing calls for a peaceful and credible electoral process in Osun State. For now, the message from the NDC aspirant is clear: violence has no place in democracy, and those who seek to disrupt the electoral process must be stopped.
